The Dominican Republic's President Leonel Fernandez expressed his congratulations to Felix Diaz soon after the boxer won the men's light welter 64kg gold medal Saturday in the Beijing Olympics, according to news reaching from Santo Domingo.

Fernandez said that Diaz played the final match bearing in mind the honor of his motherland and with a brave heart, and finally caused the national anthem of the Dominican Republic to be played in Beijing.

All Dominicans were with Diaz during the games, closely following every punch, every attack, and seeing him sweat badly on the ring, Fernandez said.

He also mentioned that Dominicans would advance sports related policy-making and invest more in sports, in order to bring home more Olympic medals in future Games.

Up to now, the Dominican Republic has won one gold medal and one silver in the Beijing Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2008)