Iranian Saei lifts second taekwondo gold of his career

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Iran's Hadi Saei beat European bronze medallist Mauro Sarmiento of Italy 6-4 in the men's -80kg final to lift the second Olympic taekwondo gold medal of his career Friday.

Saei, who won the -68kg Olympic gold in Athens, battled back from 4-2 down in the first round when Sarminento, who upset defending champion Steven Lopez in the quarter-finals, stunned the Iranian with a two-point kick to the head.

But 32-year-old Saei tied the score aqt 4-4 in the second round and made good two more kicks in the third round to win 6-4.

The bronze medals went to Lopez, also a four-time world champion, and China's Zhu Guo.

© 2008 AFP