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Champions on Day 12
Updated: 2008-08-21 09:37
BEIJING - Mexican player Guillermo Perez claimed the title of men's 58kg taekwondo event on Wednesday with superiority ruled by referees, winning the country first gold at Beijing Olympics.
Guillermo Perez (blue) of Mexico fights Yulis Gabriel Mercedes of the Dominican Republic during the men's -58kg taekwando gold medal competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 20, 2008. [Agencies]
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He said the President of Mexico called him and said "you are the pride of our country".
"Finally my dream came true," the 29-year-old said.
Perez, silver medalist of 2007 world championships, entered the final relatively easier than 28-year-old Dominican Yulis Gabriel Mercedes, who forced his way into the final after intense competitions against defending champion Chu Mu-yen of Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals and world champion Juan Antonio Ramos in the semifinals.