Chinese wrestler gets first men's wrestling silver
2008-08-13 11:03:27 GMT2008-08-13 19:03:27 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English
Chang Yongxiang(in red) of China competes during the men's 74kg quarterfinal of wrestling against Sixto Barrera of Peru at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Chang Yongxiang of China won in the match. (Xinhua Photo
Chang Yongxiang(in red) of China celebrates during the men's 74kg semifinal of wrestling against Aleh Mikhalovich of Belarus at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Chang Yongxiang of China won in the match. (Xinhua Photo)
Chang Yongxiang(in red) of China competes during the men's 74kg semifinal of wrestling against Aleh Mikhalovich of Belarus at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Chang Yongxiang of China won in the match.(Xinhua Photo)
Chang Yongxiang(in red) of China competes during the men's 74kg quarterfinal of wrestling against Sixto Barrera of Peru at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008. Chang Yongxiang of China won in the match.(Xinhua Photo/Li Gang)
Chang Yongxiang(in red) of China wins during the men's 74kg quarterfinal of wrestling against Sixto Barrera of Peru at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 13, 2008.(Xinhua Photo/Li Gang)
BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese wrestler Chang Yongxiang won his nation the first men's wrestling Olympic silver Wednesday afternoon while his rival made the first gold of the Beijing Olympics for Georgia.
Defeated by Manuchar Kvirkelia in the men's 74kg Greco-Roman competition, Chang, not at all a favorite before the Olympics, has continued making feats since his first round when he beat world champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria.
The 23-year-old Chinese lost a landslide fight against the Georgian who finished third at the world championships in 2006.
Many Georgians were in the venue cheering for their Olympians.Kvirkelia, who ecstatically ran with the national flag after the victory, got deafening hail from their country people.
Yanakiev and Christophe Guenot, whose brother took home France's first gold in the Olympics, got the bronze medals.
