Poor taekwondo judging, sportsmanship mar Games

By Ian Ransom

BEIJING (Reuters) - A moment of insanity by a Cuban taekwondo jin who kicked a referee in the head dashed organisers hopes of a controversy-free tournament in Beijing putting pressure on the sport to keep its place at the Olympics.

On the last day of competition, Angel Valodia Matos sent his foot crashing into a match referee's mouth during the men's +80-kg category.

The heavyweight's rush of blood to the head, triggered by his disqualification in a bronze medal bout, was an unfortunate, if poignant, ending to a tournament once again plagued by bewildering referee decisions and poor sportsmanship.

Since being elevated to full Olympic status in 2000, the sport has been dogged by controversy over refereeing and bad sportsmanship.

Again in Beijing scoring kicks seen clearly from the stands all too often were missed by judges sitting in close proximity, causing howls of protest from athletes and spectators alike.

One miss forced tournament officials into an embarrassing back-flip on a quarter-final result which knocked Chinese heavyweight favourite Chen Zhong out of contention.

Although correct, the decision infuriated Chinese fans, who booed Chen's British quarter-final opponent Sarah Stevenson for the rest of the competition.

"I believe this is part of our growing pains. We are a relatively young sport in the Olympics, we are still going through our infancy," said Jin Suk Yang, secretary-general of the World Taekwondo Federation.

The controversies overshadowed the achievements of the athletes who fought often enthralling bouts in front of near full stadiums every day.

South Korea reminded the world which country invented the sport, with each of their four taekwondo jin winning titles.

Mexico's athletes thrilled a legion of sombrero-wearing fans by clinching two golds, while Wu Jingyu of China lifted the stadium's roof by winning the women's flyweight title on day one.

The first three American siblings to compete in the same sport since the 1904 St Louis Games -- Mark, Diana and double Olympic champion Steven Lopez -- missed out on titles, but went home with two bronzes and a silver.

Afghanistan hailed their first Olympic medallist in Rohullah Nikpai, who took a bronze in the men's 58-kg and said he hoped it would help bring peace to the war-torn nation.