BEIJING - The first medal of the Beijing Olympic badminton tournament went to third seeds Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen from China who beat Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna from Japan 21-17, 21-10 in the bronze medal match of women's doubles here Friday.

Wei Yili (R) and Zhang Yawen of China react after defeating Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuno of Japan in the women's doubles bronze medal badminton match during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium on August 15, 2008. Wei and Zhang won the match to take home the bronze. [Agencies]

The Japanese pair who stunned top seeds Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen in the quarterfinals exhibited their perseverance in the first game, leading the score at 17-14.

After that, however, they apparently lost their stamina and yielded the rest seven points to the Chinese pair, and posed little challenge to them in the second game.

In the semifinals, Wei and Zhang lost a Chinese derby to their compatriots Du Jing and Yu Yang, the second seeds at the tournament, while Maeda and Suetsuna were downed by No. 4 seeds Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo Jung from South Korea.

Wei Yili, who failed to win a bronze medal final with her then partner Zhao Tingting at Athens Olympics to a South Korean pair, didn't want to lose it again.

"My mother called me last night when I couldn't fall asleep. She told me that you must win the bronze, it's your obligation," said 25-year-old Wei in emotion. "There will be little chance for me to participate in the next Olympics."

24-year-old Zhang, who got some fever after the semifinal, also expressed her desire for retirement after the Olympics. "It is impossible for me to attend the next Olympics."