China's Zhao Shuai celebrates after men's -58kg gold medal contest of Taekwondo at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 17, 2016. Zhao Shuai won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Han Yuqing)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Shuai of China won the men's under-58kg Olympic taekwondo title in Rio on Wednesday, beating Thailand's Tawin Hanprab 6-4 in the final.
Zhao, the bronze medalist in the 2015 world championships, led from the first score and had a 5-1 margin after two rounds. Hanprab reduced the deficit to 5-4 in the final round with a three-point head kick. But Zhao managed to stay calm and scored a point to hold onto his lead until the end.
"I am really excited. I wasn't burdened with pressure because I was not considered the title favorite before the competition," said the 21-year-old Zhao.
Luisito Pie of the Dominican Republic and South Korea's Kim Tae-hun collected the bronze medals.
