Thailand, Mexico win golds at World Taekwondo meet

Puebla (Mexico), July 17 (IANS)

Uriel Adriano of Mexico celebrates after winning against Raul Martinez of Spain during a men’s 74kg combat as part of WTF World Taekwondo Championships 2013 at the exhibitions Center on July 16, 2013 in Puebla, Mexico. (Photo by Miguel Tovar/LatinContent/Getty Images)

Mexican Uriel Adriano lifted the men’s 74kg title while Chanatip Sonkham of Thailand won the women’s 49kg at the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships here.

Adriano brought Mexico its first gold at these Championships when he came back from 0-1 down to beat Russia’s Albert Gaun Tuesday, reports Xinhua.

“My dream has come true in a very perfect way, I always wanted to be world champion and I achieved for my country, today I want to thank everyone,” said Adriano, who became the seventh Latin American taekwondo world champion in the event.

In the women’s 49 kg final, Chanatip Sonkham gave a lesson in taekwondo and defeated Jordan’s Dana Touran 13-0 in a fight that was one-sided from the beginning.

Sonkham said it was the happiest day of her life when winning the gold medal, adding that she wanted to stay at high level and win another gold in 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The 2013 World Taekwondo Championships opened Sunday night at the exhibition centre in Puebla, with the participation of 872 athletes from 134 countries and regions.