Chinese Zhang Xiaoping shows his gold medal after winning the Olympic light weight (81kg) final competition at the Olympic Games on Sunday, August 24, 2008. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

Chinese Zhang Xiaoping beat Ireland's Kenny Egan to win the Olympic light weight (81kg) gold medal at the Olympic Games on Sunday.

Zhang maintained his leading position through out the match and ended it at 11-7. Zhang and Egan got the same points in the second and third rounds, but Zhang made a better start and ending.

It is a breakthrough for China's boxing as none of Chinese heavy weight boxers had won Olympic medals before.

Just before Zhang's victory, his team mate "Pirate" Zou Shiming claimed the gold of 48kg at the Beijing Olympic Games.