Wang Jiao (red) of China fights against Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria during the women's freestyle 72 kg gold medal match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Wang Jiao beat Stanka Zlateva and grabbed the gold. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Host wrestler Wang Jiao of China won the women's 72kg freestyle wrestling Olympic gold after defeating Stanke Zlateva of Bulgaria on Sunday.

    Four years ago in Athens Games, Wang Jiao's teammate Wang Xu beat Russian Gouzel Maniorova to win China the first-ever Olympic wrestling gold. Wang Jiao walked almost the same way to help China retain the title.

    Both Wang Jiao and Wang Xu thrashed five-time world champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan in semifinals. Compared with less known Maniorova, twice world champion Zlateva is more difficult to beat.

    Zlateva took the opening point before a capacity crowd of screaming fans 30 seconds into the first bout. Wang Jiao struck back with a leg attack that the world champion tried to answer with a counter throw and was caught on her back leading to Zlateva's defeat.

    Wang trapped Zlateva on her back midway in the first bout and forced the Bulgarian's shoulders to the mat to seize a victory by fall. This bout only took her one minute and 59 seconds.

    "It is my great honor to win this gold medal for China. This is such a surprising victory," said Wang Jiao. "I thought about it before but I didn't expect it to come so early.

    "The final was really tough, but I won it easily. I didn't attend many international competitions and I don't have enough experiences.

    "So I just competed like I would against any opponents. I was quite relaxed in the final and I won.

    "I still have a long way to go to become the dominant queen in this category," added Wang Jiao.

    Wang Jiao, 20, was born in an ordinary family in Shenyang, northeast China. She was picked up by a Judo coach at the age of 13 and changed to learn wrestling when she was 15.

    "As a girl, she never cried for injuries or bleeding," said Lu Hai, Wang Jiao's coach. "She would just cry for losses."

    In 2004, Wang Jiao became a member in the national wrestling team, but was just the substitution of Wang Xu as Wang Xu just crowned in Athens Games. But Wang Jiao did not wait for long.

    In 2007, Wang Jiao took part in the 2007 World Junior Championships and easily won the title. But her lacking of experiences also showed her disadvantage which led to an easy defeat in 2008 World Cup.

    "That defeat means nothing to me," said Wang Jiao. "It only forced me to prove myself. And I proved it."

Gold medalist Wang Jiao of China poses on the podium during the awarding ceremony of women's freestyle 72 kg of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

 

(L-R) Silver medalist Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria, gold medalist Wang Jiao of China and bronze medalists Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan and Agnieszka Wieszczek of Poland pose on the podium during the awarding ceremony of women's freestyle 72 kg of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>> Wang Jiao of China celebrates after beating Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria during the women's freestyle 72 kg gold medal match of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 17, 2008. Wang Jiao beat Stanka Zlateva and grabbed the gold. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>