London, England: Saudi Arabia won their first medal of the London Olympic Games by taking the bronze in the equestrian team jumping at Greenwich Park on Monday. After leading from round one on Sunday, the Saudi team had to settle for third place behind Great Britain and the Netherlands, who took part in a jump-off to decide gold and silver after they had finished tied on eight penalty points.

Saudi team member Ramzy Al Duhami said of the bronze medal: “I cannot explain how much this means to our nation. We have invested so much in this sport and we hope our success here will progress the sport in our country.” Saudi Arabia, anchored by Prince Abdullah al Saud, took the bronze medal ahead of stalwarts Switzerland and Sweden and defending Olympic team champions the United States.

The Saudi team was: Kamal Bahamdan (riding Delphi), Abdullah Bin Metab Al Saud (Davos), Ramzy Al Duhami (Bayard V Devilla T.) and Abdullah Sharbatly (Sultan) Elsewhere on Monday there were gold medals for China, Korea and Iran – a second in two days for the Islamic Republic in Greco-Roman wrestling thanks to Omid Haji Noroozi’s victory in the 60kg category.

China's Xu Lijia won gold in the women's Laser Radial race at the sailing venue of Weymouth and Portland, leading from the front in a four-nation head-to-head. In men’s gymnastics, Yang Hak-seon became the first Korean gymnast to win gold at the Olympics with victory in the men's vault final.

Kazakhstan added a bronze medal to the six gold already in the bag when Danyal Gajiyev finished third in the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling 84kg. China finished the day with 31 gold and 64 total medals, with USA second on 29 gold and 63 total.
 
Korea was in fourth place with 11 gold and 22 in total and Kazakhstan eighth on six gold medals. Iran also claimed a silver medal on Monday through Navab Nasirshelal in men's weightlifting 105kg. Iran now has two gold, one silver and one bronze.