South Korean judoka Min Ho Choi changed his bronze medal in Athens to gold in the men's extra-light-weight final at the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday evening.

Choi defeated Ludwig Paischer from Austria by an ippon, after defeating four opponents without meeting Japanese Hiroaki Hiraoka, a highly expected rival toward the champion.

Hiraoka was halted at the first round by Taraje Williams-Murray from the United States, who was swept by Venezuelan Javier Guedez later.

"I have trained so hard and I feel so happy for getting the best result," said Choi. "I really want to thank all the people, especially my parents, who always support me."

The South Korean judoka said his parents had a dream that a lot of people came to his home to express congratulations to them. "I can't believe that the dream have come true," Choi who finished third in world championship last year said.

The 28-year-old Choi scored five ippons, perfect throw-down, in all five matches on Saturday, in which he defeated Ruben Houkes in 24 seconds, the world champion in 2007 from Netherlands, who later grabbed a bronze medal.

There has not always been lucky players like Choi and Paischer who upgraded Olympic results in four years. Nestor Khergiani of Georgia, silver medalist both at Athens Games and World Championship in Rio de Janeiro, lost his game in the first round.

Rishod Sobirov from Uzbekistan stole the other bronze medal from French Dimitri Dragin with a koka, a very slim advantage over the opponent.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2008)