Light-Heavyweight (≤81 kilograms), Men

All of the medalists from the 2007 World Championships were in Beijing, with two of them meeting in the first round, Yerkebulan Shynaliyev (KAZ) defeating Daugirdas Šemiotas (LTU). The 2007 World Champion, Uzbeki Abbos Atayev, also lost in the first round. And then 2007 silver medalist, Artur Beterbiyev of Russia, lost in round two to China’s Zhang Xiaoping, silver medalist at the 2007 Asian Championships. Shynaliyev kept winning, moving to the semi-finals against Zhang, who won that match by judge’s decision, after they tied 4-4.

In the other half of the draw, Ireland’s Kenny Egan, bronze medalist at the 2006 Europeans, advanced unscathed, easily winning four decisions – 22-2, 10-2, 8-0, and 10-3. The final saw Zhang win a popular hometown victory, 11-7. Shortly after the Olympics Egan won the EU Amateur Championships, adding bronze medals in 2009 at that meet and the 2010 European Championships. But his career derailed after that, as he admitted to a drinking problem, but did seek treatment for it, spurred on by his girlfriend.