Though his counterpart Osornio Eric of Mexico tried to reply later, the runner-up at 2005 World University Games could not find any chance to challenge his energetic opponent. The 19-year-old Turk managed to defend his lead with clever moves in the final set to claim the first gold for his delegation.

"I have started taekwondo since five years old, so it was not easy for my today's achievements. Though I could meet many top-level opponents in the Olympics, I will aim for the title with next stage's training," commented Servet, also the gold medalist at 2004 World Junior Championships.

In the third-place playoffs earlier, Chong Ryan Wy Lunn of Malaysia and China's Zhu Shengpeng downed their opponents to wrap up the bronze medal.

The four-day Olympic test event, which has drawn 128 athletes from 27 countries and regions, the same number of athletes for the Olympics, opened on Tuesday morning at the Gymnasium of the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) , the venue for the Olympic judo and taekwondo competition in August.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2008)