CHINA DAILY FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2012 olympics 3 Irish boxer makes gold on fi rst try

By REUTERS in making her miss with ease. Th e American joined Briton American teenager Claressa Nicola Adams and Ireland’s Shields outfoxed and out- Katie Taylor in becoming the gunned Russian Nadezda Tor- fi rst women’s Olympic lopova to win the fi rst women’s champions aft er the duo won Olympic boxing middleweight their fi nals earlier on Th ursday. gold on Th ursday. Women’s boxing has been Shields took the bout 19-12 a big success in its Olympic at the ExCeL Arena in east debut, overshadowing the men London to claim America’s in the process, and in Taylor, only gold medal in the ring at they have not only the face of the Games aft er the nine men the sports but potentially one all exited before the semifi nals. of the stories of the Games. Th e grinning Shields danced Taylor, 26, had to watch pre- her way out of the arena to cap vious from her rise to the top from the home knowing that the sport tough streets of Flint, Michigan. she excelled so greatly at was Following a cagey opening the only one missing from the round, Shields broke open a women’s program at the Sum- big lead aft er a strong second mer Games. round where she utilized her Th e overwhelming favorite, quicker hand speed to land a she beat Russia’s Sofya Och- number of scoring blows in the igava 10-8 in front of an arena tight exchanges with her bigger packed again with raucous opponent. Irish fans, desperate for a fi rst The Russian, at 33 almost untainted Irish Olympic gold CUI MENG / CHINA DAILY twice the age of her oppo- in 20 years. Great Britain’s Nicola Adams (left) celebrates winning against China’s in their fl yweight 51-kg gold medal match at the London Olympics on Thursday. nent, took more punishment In a rematch of this year’s in the third round as Shields world championship fi nal, Tay- landed with a couple of big left lor started cagier than in previ- straights to take a 15-10 lead. ous fights, catching Ochigava Shields ducked and dived with two big right hooks but Adams fi rst to women’s boxing title away from the lumbering taking a left square on to leave blows from the tired Russian, the scores tied aft er one round. with joy right now. I have want- get in the face of her opponent, her way past Ren’s weakening Englishwoman claims victory over ed this all my life and I have who had impressed at the jab to land fl urries of punches done it,” a beaming Adams told Games with her ability to fi ght with both hands to take the China’s Ren in fi nal reporters, who could not believe at a distance with her rangy jab. third 5-1 and a 14-5 lead. she scored a knockdown. Adams then landed a left fol- Ren looked out of ideas By PATRICK JOHNSTON win in the fi nal at the ExCeL “I didn’t see that coming, but lowed by a massive right hand in the final round as Adams in London arena in south east London as it happened. I was just thinking halfway through the second stayed out of trouble to ease she dominated the three-times of becoming Olympic cham- round to dump Ren fl at on her to victory in a country where Britain’s Nicola Adams world champion from start to pion. Th e feeling is absolutely back on the canvas to give the women could not get a license became the first woman to fi nish, recording a rare knock amazing.” Briton a 9-4 lead at the bell. to box 15 years ago. win an Olympic boxing title by down in the second round. Th e noisy crowd, including Th e blow unsettled Ren who Ren was not downbeat fol- bullying her way Th e Briton shadow boxed in British royalty in the form of tried to mix it with Adams lowing the loss, embracing the to victory over each corner of the ring with Duchess of Cambridge Kate rather than use the boxing historic moment for the sport. China’s No 1 seed delight aft er her name was read Middleton, roared in delight artistry that had taken her to “I am very happy,” she told Ren Cancan, tak- out as the winner following as Adams dominated the early her world titles and built her reporters. “It was a very special ing the flyweight the exciting four two minutes exchanges to open up 4-2 lead reputation as one of the fi nest moment.” PATRICK SEMANSKY / ASSOCIATED PRESS gold on Th ursday in front of a rounds. aft er the fi rst round. women boxers. Losing semifinalists Mary Ireland’s Katie Taylor celebrates winning her fi ght against thrilled home crowd. “It is a dream come true. I Adams evaded the jabs of Adams continued to land Kom of India and American Russia’s Sofya Ochigava in the lightweight 60-kg gold medal Adams easily recorded a 16-7 am so happy and overwhelmed Ren to land clever shots and shots in the third as she ducked Marlen Esparez took bronze. match on Thursday.