[NBC-1TV]Korea, the United States and Turkey grabbed two medals each on the second day of the takwondo competition at the Beijing Olympic Games on Aug. 21, 2008.

Chinese Taipei won a bronze medal, while Croatia clinched the country’s first medal in the taekwondo competition, which was held at the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) Gymnasium in Beijing.

In the women’s -57kg final match, Korea’s Lim Su Jeong, the gold medalist at the WTF World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, brushed aside a stiff challenge of Turkey’s Azize Tanrikulu, the second finisher at the WTF European Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, to win the gold medal.

“I just focused on the game and didn’t think of anything else. I didn’t think about losing and I didn’t even think about this being the Olympic Games,” she said after winning the gold medal.

The bronze medal in the women’s -57kg category went to Martina Zubcic of Croatia, the first placer at the WTF European Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, and Diana Lopez of the United States, the second placer at the WTF Pan American Taekwondo Qualification Tournament.

Korean Son Tae Jin, the first finisher at the WTF World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, beat Mark Lopez of the United States, the second placer at the WTF Pan American Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, in the men’s -68kg final match for the gold medal in the taekwondo competition at the Beijing Olympic Games.

“I felt so good during the match. I thought I could win,” Son said after the final match. “In 2007, I had a very hard time. I lost in the first round during the world event. I thought “Why can’t I win?” I hesitated and though about whether I should continue to train and whether I would continue with taewkondo. But at last I have won the gold medal.”

Yu Chi Sung of Chinese Taipei, the gold medal winner at the 2007 WTF World Taekwondo Championships, and Servet Tazegul of Turkey, the first finisher at the WTF European Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, shared the bronze medal in the men’s -68kg division.

In the afternoon, Dr. Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, visited the venue of the taekwondo competition to meet with Dr. Chungwon Choue, president of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Shortly after shaking hands with WTF President Choue, the two went into the competition site to watch four quarterfinal matches for about one hour, which were all held in a very orderly and dynamic manner. No protests and unsportsmanlike behavior were found throughout the four matches, the very result of the WTF’s ceaseless efforts for ensuring fairer judging and refereeing at taekwondo competitions.

The third day of the taekwondo competition on Aug. 22 will feature the women’s under 67kg category and the men’s under 80kg category.