Taekwondo athlete Tseng Li-cheng won Taiwan’s second medal at the London Olympics Aug. 9, taking bronze in the women’s under 57-kilogram event.
Tseng defeated Finland’s Suvi Mikkonen 14-2, after losing to Great Britain’s Jade Jones in the semifinal match earlier the same day by a score of 10-6. Jones went on to beat mainland China’s Hou Yuzhuo for the gold medal. The other bronze medal went to Marlene Harnois of France.
In previous rounds, Tseng triumphed over Rangsiya Nisasaisom of Thailand 4-1 and then Andrea Paoli of Lebanon 5-2 to advance to the final four.
Tseng’s bronze is Taiwan’s first medal in the weight class since taekwondo formally became an Olympic sport in 2000.
After the victory, Sports Affairs Council Minister Tai Hsia-ling presented a congratulatory message to Tseng from ROC President Ma Ying-jeou.
As of Aug. 9, Taiwan had a total of one silver and one bronze, placing it 52nd in the overall medal tally. Weightlifter Hsu Shu-ching won the silver in the women’s 53-kilogram event July 29.
At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Taiwan finished 80th overall with four bronze medals. (SB-THN)