- Title: Jordan wins its first ever Olympic gold medal
- Date: 19th August 2016
- Summary: AMMAN, JORDAN (AUGUST 19, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AT TAEKWONDO FIGHTER AHMAD ABUGHAUSH'S TRAINING GYM
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2016 09:54
- Keywords: Jordan Amman Olympics Rio Takwondo
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0014VSKMRJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Jordanian taekwondo fighter, Ahmed Abughaush garners his country its first Olympic medal in its history, after surging to the finals of men's 68kg category in Rio de Janeiro.
Family members and friends gathered in Abughaush's training gym early on Friday (August 20) to watch the final match, erupting in cheers and applause as the Jordanian athlete won against his Russian counterpart, Alexey Denisenko.
The gold-medalist's mother said she has always dreamed of this moment.
"This (win) is a dedicated to the country. It has always been my dream, I told him God willing you will lift the (Jordanian) flag in Brazil. Thank God, thank God, he did. May God grant him strength, and bless him. And may God bless everyone who supported Ahmad, so that he could reach this stage," said Fareeda Abdelhamid.
Abughaush produced a series of upsets to make the final, taking out twice world champion Lee Dae-hoon in the quarter-finals and then gold medal holder Joel Gonzalez in the last four.
The winner's father, Omran, said he was very proud of his son.
"This achievement has made us very proud, he made us proud, and made Jordan proud. It is enough that he raised the Jordanian flag there in Brazil," he said.
Jordan has never won an Olympic medal. It received two bronze medals in taekwondo in Seoul in 1988, when the sport was only a demonstration sport.
Taekwondo was added as an official Olympic sport during the 2000 Sydney Games.
With this win, Abughaush raises the medals won by Arab athletes to 13. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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