Cuba wins first gold in Beijing Olympic Games -- china.org.cn

Mijain Lopez (blue) of Cuba wrestles with Khasan Baroev of Russia during the men’s Greco-Roman 120kg final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Mijain Lopez won the bout and grabbed the gold medal.

Mijain Lopez (blue) of Cuba wrestles with Khasan Baroev of Russia during the men's Greco-Roman 120kg final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Mijain Lopez won the bout and grabbed the gold medal. [Xinhua]

World champion of men's super heavyweight wrestling Mijain Lopez won Cuba its first gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing on Thursday evening.

Winning over Olympic champion Khasan Baroev of Russia in the men's 120kg Greco-Roman final, Lopez said "No one can beat Khasan except me. Both of us were in good form. Though he lost, entering the final competition was surely the great thing."

The losing Russian said that "Lopez is the best in the world. But if I had one more chance, I would have beaten him."

Mindaugas Mizgaitis of Lithuania and Yuri Patrikeev of Armenia shared the bronze medals.

Mijain Lopez of Cuba celebrates after defeating Khasan Baroev of Russia during the men's Greco-Roman 120kg final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Mijain Lopez of Cuba won the bout and grabbed the gold medal.

Mijain Lopez of Cuba celebrates after defeating Khasan Baroev of Russia during the men's Greco-Roman 120kg final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games wrestling event in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Mijain Lopez of Cuba won the bout and grabbed the gold medal. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2008)