Zhong Man of China (L) during the competition

Zhong Man ignited the home crowd Tuesday night, as all Chinese people in the Olympic Fencing Hall roared for their second Olympic fencing gold medal in 24 years.

The 25-year-old sabre fencer defeated Frenchman Nicolas Lopez 15-9 in men's sabre individual event final at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The gold medal came as China's second in its fencing history, after women foilist Luan Jujie won the first one at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"I don't feel much pressure before the match. I would like to dedicate this supreme honor to my coach," Zhong said after the match.

"My French coach Chiristian Bauer offered tremendous help in improving my fencing skills. He is the best sabre coach in the world," he told a crowded press conference.

"The further I went, the more relaxed I became. Maybe I won the medal because I don't have so much pressure as some other people do," said the new champion, who watched TV soap opera Tuesday afternoon to relax himself.

His coach Bauer attributed the success to the past two years of hard training. "He has reached an outstanding, European level," said the Frenchman.

His rival Lopez, though apparently disappointed with the results, called Zhong "today's best fencer." "He seemed to become more relaxed as the match went on," Lopez said.

Zhong, the 2008 Asian Championship winner in Bangkok and 2007/2008 World Cup gold medallist in Warsaw, said he just started to shine in international competitions in the past two years.

"Maybe that's why the opponents have paid much attention to me and haven't studied the characteristics of my fencing skills."

Born in Nantong, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, Zhong started his athletics life as a runner.

"A fencing coach in Nantong noticed me and thought I could be trained as a fencer," he said. However, his parents wouldn't allow him to take on this sport in the beginning, arguing that the intensive training could affect his schooling.

"But I insisted, and carried on. I'm happy with what I have achieved today and wish the gold medal could help promote the sport of fencing in China," said Zhong.

(L-R) Silver medallist Nicolas Lopez of France, gold medallist Zhong Man of China, and bronze medallist Mihai Covaliu of Romania at the award ceremony

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)