BEIJING (Reuters) - Carol Huynh gave Canada its first gold of the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday in the women's 48kg freestyle wrestling event.

Huynh, 27, defeated Japanese two-time world champion wrestler Chiharu Icho who took silver in wrestling's lightest weight class. The score was 3-1.

Her parents are Chinese and they fled Vietnam in the 1970s. She was born in British Columbia.

"I was the first in the family to be born in Canada. My parents are both very hard-working. It's very special to them to be here and see such an accomplishment and to see me reach my dream," she said. "And right in front of their eyes..."

Irini Merleni of Ukraine and Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan won bronze medals.