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Afghans win first Olympic medal

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Video - Nikpai beats GB's Harvey

Rohullah Nikpai won Afghanistan's first ever Olympic medal when he took bronze in the taekwondo men's 58kg category.

He beat world champion Juan Antonio Ramos of Spain 4-1 in a play-off.

Taekwondo is one of the most popular sports in conflict-hit Afghanistan, which boasts more than 700 clubs and 25,000 competitors.

The nation - which has sent a team of four to Beijing - counted its previous best Olympic finish as a fifth place in the wrestling in 1964.

Sarah Stevenson's guide to taekwondo

Nikpai's victory thousands of miles away has dominated news on several private television and radio stations in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai is reported to have spoken to Nikpai over the phone to congratulate him on his victory.

And the president of the Afghan Olympic committee, Mohammad Anawar Jegdalak, told the BBC the government would give the martial artist a house to mark the win.

He also said an organisation in Kabul plans to give Nikpai a gift of US$50,000.

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, brought to Kabul by an American master in 1972.


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Taekwondo medals table

Thursday, 21 August 2008 07:46 UK
Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze TOTAL
1 also show each event results forChina 1 0 0 1
Women's Under 49kg 1 0 0
2 also show each event results forMexico 1 0 0 1
Men's Under 58kg 1 0 0
3 also show each event results forDominican Rep 0 1 0 1
Men's Under 58kg 0 1 0
4 also show each event results forThailand 0 1 0 1
Women's Under 49kg 0 1 0
5 also show each event results forAfghanistan 0 0 1 1
Men's Under 58kg 0 0 1
6 also show each event results forChinese Taipei 0 0 1 1
Men's Under 58kg 0 0 1
7 also show each event results forCuba 0 0 1 1
Women's Under 49kg 0 0 1
8 also show each event results forVenezuela 0 0 1 1
Women's Under 49kg 0 0 1

see also
Afghan black belt eyes Olympic medal
06 Aug 08 |  South Asia
BBC Olympics blog
15 Aug 08 |  Olympics
Beijing 2008
14 Feb 08 |  Olympics
Sarah Stevenson's guide to taekwondo
11 Apr 08 |  Taekwondo

related internet links:
Beijing 2008 - taekwondo
British Taekwondo
Guide to taekwondo - Wikipedia
Olympic schedule from the BOA
Taekwondo from the BOA
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