SARAH'S HEARTBREAK

SARAH STEVENSON won the most controversial bronze medal of the Olympic Games yesterday — and, in the process, became public enemy No 1 in China.

The Brit defeated Egyptian Noha Abd Rabo to clinch third spot in taekwondo’s 67kg category.

But that was just a sub-plot after astonishing scenes inside Beijing’s USTB Gymnasium.

In the quarter-finals, the 25-year-old from Doncaster got past Chinese golden girl Zhong Chen — but only after a successful and unprecedented protest from Team GB.

It sparked fury among the partisan crowd.

Even though Stevenson was clearly robbed by the judges in her bout with Chen, an upheld appeal is unheard of in the sport.

And Chen — an unbeaten national hero bidding for her third successive Olympic title — was about to walk out for her semi-final clash when it was announced to stunned spectators that Stevenson would take her place.

Chen appeared to take the reversal gracefully but outraged fans jeered Stevenson when she emerged to face world champion Maria del Rosario Espinoza.

Then, the Mexican’s every kick was cheered as she despatched the British girl, who would have got little local sympathy as she blamed the botched judging and subsequent confusion for her last-four defeat.

Stevenson said: “I didn’t fight very well because I didn’t have enough time to prepare because I didn’t expect to fight.

“I’ve beaten that girl twice. I thought my next fight was in the repechage and I was focused on that. I just blew it.”

Stevenson recovered enough composure to comfortably beat Noha Abd Rabo for her bronze medal.

The controversial fight with Chen saw the Chinese idol a point up in the final seconds.

Then Stevenson caught her opponent flush in the face with a kick.

But the double-point scorer was missed by at least two of the four judges.

Afterwards, Stevenson said: “After the day I’ve had I’m grateful I got bronze.”