Obara wins 48kg gold

ByEurosport

Updated 08/08/2012 at 18:35 GMT

Japan's Hitomi Obara came from behind to win gold in the final of the lightest women's freestyle wrestling division at the London Olympics on Wednesday.

Japan's Hitomi Obara reacts after defeating Azerbaijan's Mariya Stadnyk for the gold medal of the Women's 48Kg Greco-Roman wrestling at the ExCel venue during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 8, 2012.

Image credit: Reuters

She beat Mariya Stadnyk of Azerbaijan to add the Olympic 48kg title to the eight world championships she has won in a dazzling career.

Obara fell to her knees on the wrestling mat and wept with her head in her hands as Japanese supporters erupted in the packed arena. Obara lost the first of three rounds, but fought back to win the next two.

The pair had also met in last year's world championship final, a closely fought contest that Obara also won.

Olympic Games