Women's judoka Xian Dongmei won China the fifth Olympic gold medal
of the Athens Olympic Games with an overwhelming victory over
Japanese Yuki Yokosawa in the women's under 52-kilo category in Ano
Liossia Olympic Hall?on Sunday.
It was one of the most one-sided victory in the Olympic finals
as Xian spent only one minute and seven seconds to seal the victory
over the 22-year-old Japanese who won a bronze medal at the 2003
World Judo Championships.
Xian became the first judoka to beat a Japanese at the Athens
Olympics.
Xian took on an attacking
approach, grabbing the Japanese before she could contain the rival
down to the mat for ippon.
Xian thanked her husband, also a former judoka, after the
victory.
"He is a great man standing behind me," she said.
"But I really do not know how I will celebrate when I return
home.
"Judo is the only thing I know," she joked.
The final was the second encounter between the two. Xian managed
an easy win over the Japanese in March in the first meet.
"I was relaxed before the match because we have met before.
"So when I knew it was her who went into the final, I just felt
confident that I could win the gold medal," said the 29-year-old
veteran from Guangdong
Province.
Xian said her acknowledgement about her rival because of a joint
training session before attributed to her victory.
"I knew what is her advantage, but I do not think she was using
it," said the bashful jukoda.
Xian displayed a dominant power en route to the gold. She used
less than two minutes to defeat her rivals including the
Frenchwoman Annabelle Euranie, silver medallist of 2003 World
Championships by ippon in the semi-finals.
The only tough time she faced was in the opening match when she
defeated Slovenia's Petra Nareks in overtime.
"The opening match is always difficult but I have no doubt on my
ability."
But it is hard to believe it was the first Olympic Games for the
29-year-old veteran who has an impressive season this year by
winning the French Super A and German World Cup tournaments.
Yesterday's victory of the two-time national champion Xian,
without any world championships experience, was seen by many as a
surprise.
But it wasn't for Xian.
"I was aiming for the gold and I did not consider myself as a
darkhorse."
Her much-famous rival had to settle for the silver.
"I wanted the gold but I did not do enough to win it," Yokosawa
said.
Xian almost missed the Athens Games for a retirement plan after
winning a title at the 2001 National Games.
"I have so many injuries so I almost quit," Xian said. "However,
there are lots of people who have trust on me and I just kept
things going."
Her gold is the second medal for China's judokas in Athens as
Gao Feng already won a bronze in the women's under 48-kilo category
on Saturday.
Chinese judo team is aiming for one gold but now has the
potential to win three.
(China Daily August 16, 2004)