Gil Haimovich won the gold medal in the mens taekwondo competition in the Youth Olympics in Singapore when his Iranian opponent in the final failed to appear.

After beating Lucas Gozman of Argentina in the semi-finals, the 17-year-old Israeli was pitted against Iran's Mohammed Suleimani considered the favourite to take gold.

Haimovich waited for 15 minutes before the judges awarded him a technical victory. The Iranian team claimed Suleimeni was injured.

Haimovich said: “I would have preferred to win the medal in a contest rather than technical victory. I feel I will be ready to compete with adults in the London Olympics in 2012