Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu ended Japan's 24-year wait for an Olympic men's wrestling gold medal when he beat India's Sushil Kumar in the 66kg freestyle final on Sunday.

"I have dedicated all of my life to take the gold medal," said the 26-year-old Yonemitsu, runner-up at last year's world championships, after adding his title to the three won by Japan's female wrestlers in London.

During the final, he edged ahead in the first period before producing a huge lift and slam on Kumar in the second to all but seal his 3-1 victory.