Gold medalist Ramazan Sahin of Turkey stands on the podium during awarding ceremony of men's freestyle 66kg of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Ramazan Sahin of Turkey (red) fights against Andriy Stadnik of Ukraine in men's freestyle 66kg gold medal match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 20, 2008. Ramazan Sahin beat Andriy Stadnik and grabbed the gold medal. [Xinhua/Li Gang]

Ramazan Sahin of Turkey won the men's freestyle 66kg wrestling title to earn Turkey their first gold medal on Wednesday evening at the Beijing Olympic Games.

The reigning world champion lost the first period to Ukrainian Andriy Stadnik but took the next two for a 2-1 (2-2, 2-1, 2-2) victory. The first period was decided on the last point given to Stadnik, while the third period went to Sahin because he had one 2-point technique to his opponent's two 1-point techniques.

"The final was the most difficult round," said Sahin. "I lost to him the last time we fought, but I felt quite relaxed and confident this time."

"The gold is for the Turkish people. I would like to give my appreciation to my coach and all the people who support me." added Sahin.

Stadnik was happy to win the silver because he thought he did better than his wife, bronze medalist Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan in women's freestyle 48kg wrestling.

"It's nice to realise that you compete against your own wife and you are the winner," said Stadnik.

"Reaching the final is already a good result. I have been ready to win. I have competed against Sahin three times, and I only won once."

The bronze medal was shared by Otar Tushishvili of Georgia, a semifinal loser to Sahin, and Sushil Kumar of India.

Tushishvili won the medal by points over Cuba's Geandry Garzon, scoring the last of two takedowns of the second period after dominating the first one.

Kumar broke free from a defensive position in an extra time to beat Leonid Spiridonov of Kazakhstan for the bronze medal.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)