World champion Wu Jingyu won Olympic taekwondo gold for China on Wednesday, thrilling home fans with a defeat of Buttree Puedpong of Thailand in the final of the women's 49-kg category in Beijing.
Wu wasted no time unleashing her trademark aggression, knocking her opponent to the floor three times with raking kicks aimed at the head in the opening moments of the bout, prompting roars of approval from the fiercely partisan crowd.
The attacking pressure paid off with Wu earning a point after landing a side-kick to Puedpong's chest in the third minute of the first round.
The second three-minute stanza a stalemate with neither taekwondo jin willing to take the initiative to attack, Wu carried the 1-0 lead into the third round.
Surprise finalist Puedpong appeared like a rabbit in the headlights in the face of Wu's attacks, and was deducted a penalty point after being cautioned twice for passivity.
Wu protected the 1-(-1) lead until the clock ran down, then ripped off her protective helmet and saluted ecstatic fans as she became China's third taekwondo gold medallist.
Dalia Contreras Rivero of Venezuela prevailed in a low-scoring tussle against Mildred Alango of Kenya to win 1-0 and take a bronze.
Daynellis Montejo of Cuba landed a scoring kick to the chest of Taiwan's Yang Shu-Chun in extra time to win by sudden death and take the other bronze.
