Luo Wei (red) of China gives a kick to her opponent Alaa Kutkut of Jordan during the taekwondo women's 72kg final at Doha Asiad, Qatar, Dec. 9, 2006.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

Luo Wei shows her gold medal of taekwondo women's 72kg. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    DOHA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Olympic Champion Luo Wei claimed the gold medal in the women's 72kg taekwondo at the Doha Asiad on Saturday, beating Alaa Kutkut of Jordan 1-0 in the final.

    Luo, gold medallist in women's 67kg in the Athens Games, challenged Kutkut in the first set but neither of them managed to score.

    The 23-year-old Luo took a 1-0 lead with ten seconds left in the second set, hitting Kutkut on the chest.

    Kutkut, silver medallist in the Bangkok Asiad, tried to reply in the third set while Luo also attempted to make the other kick to get scores, but neither of them manage to change the score when full-time was indicated.

    Luo, 23, overcame Yang Wen Chen from Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinal and Lee In Jong from South Korea in the semifinal.

    The bronze medals went to Mahroz Sae Bonehkohal of Iran and LeeIn Jong of South Korea.

    "Kutkut's attack was a little bit different from the others, so I tried to avoid being hurt by her," Luo said after the competition.

    "I think I had some injuries, but none of them are serious," she added.

    "I think the most difficult match was with the Lee in the semifinals. She attacked very fast and she's tall, so that's why it was hard,"

    "I'm generally stronger than Lee, so I believed that I could win the game."

    "My mind was very clear during the games and I also think my strategy was very good. I want to thank my coach."

    "I played the Olympic champion and it was a difficult game, but I had to show my best for my country and my team," said Kutkut.

    While talking about whether she feared Luo, Kutkut said:" I was a little bit scared when she beat the South Korean in the semifinal. I knew we'll meet and I must perform well."

    "This bronze medal is important for me, for Iran, for Iranian women and for Iranian taekwondo," the bronze medallist Bonehkohal said.