Kim, Tcinaridze strike taekwondo gold at Universiade
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Xinhua, August 22, 2011
Kim Seok Uk handed South Korea a sixth gold medal in taekwondo at the World University Games with victory in the men's 74kg category on Monday.
Meanwhile, Russian Arsen Tcinaridze won the first taekwondo gold for the Russian men.
Kim never seemed in danger in the 74kg final. He and opponent Farzad Zolghadri of Iran didn't score hits in the first round, but Kim grabbed the lead with a head kick in the second round and strengthened it in the third round to win 5-2.
Tcinaridze was up against Ali Sari of Turkey in the men's +87kg final. The Russian appeared confident and aggressive from the second round on, winning it 3-0 and then extended to 6-0 in the final round.
Sari, a bronze medallist at the 2007 Universiade, now took silver, like his brother Yunus Sari did on Sunday in the -80kg.
"This medal brings me closer to my Olympic dream and will push me to work even harder. I really wanted to win when I came here but I wasn't sure if it was possible. When I got up this morning I was nervous, because I didn't know if I was going to win or to lose," said a relieved Tcinaridze, who is competing in his first Universiade.
