London, Aug 9 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Irish boxer Katie Taylor won Olympic gold Thursday, beating Russia's Sofia Ochigava 10-8 in a close final in the women's lightweight category here.

For Taylor, it was a rematch against the woman she defeated 11-7 for the world title in May.

The first round ended 2-2 before Ochigava took a 4-3 lead in the second.

Taylor stormed back in the third round, taking the score to 7-5 as a large contingent of Irish fans roared their support before Ochigava narrowly won the final round, but not by enough margin for victory.

Tajikistan's Mavzuna Chorieva became the first woman to win an Olympic medal for her country after she and Brazil's Adriana Araujo won bronze Wednesday.

Taylor's win over Chorieva was another repeat from the World Championships, as the Irish boxer mimicked her dominant semi-final performance from May with a 17-9 victory on points in which she won every round.

Ochigava's fight against the quick-moving Araujo was closer, but the Russian still won three of the four rounds as she emerged victorious by a score of 17-11.

Women's boxing is making its debut in the Olympics this year. Bouts consist of four two-minute rounds, as opposed to the three three-minute rounds for the men.

Both semi-finals losers are awarded bronze medals, with the semifinal winners battling it out for gold and silver.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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