China grabbed both the men's and women 's badminton team titles at the 15th
Asian Games here on Tuesday.
Shuttler Bao Chunlai of China
celebrates his victory over South Korean players in the men's
badminton team finals in the 15th DohaAsian Games December
5,2006.[Xinhua]
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In the men's team
final, China defeated defending champion South Korea 3-2 in a tough battle to
reclaim the gold 16 years later.
World champion Lin Dan seemed used up after a heart-stirring battle against
Indonesian Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat on Monday. In Tuesday's duel of two
left-handers, Lin could not get rid off a gritty Lee Hyun Il, losing the first
set 20-22.
Although the 23-year-old world number one shuttler fought back to claim a
21-11 victory in the second set, he failed to turn the table in the rubber set,
suffering a loss of 13-21.
"I failed to win the game point in the opening set and I played below bar in
the final set," said a depressed Lin.
But then world number one Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng filled the deficit for China
by bravely knocking off tough rivals Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung 21-19,
21-14, followed by Asian Games rookie Chen Jin coming from one set down to beat
Park Sung Hwan 18-21, 21- 6 and 21-11.
Although Zheng Bo and Guo Zhendong failed to hold back Lee Jae Jin and Hag Ji
Man, losing the fourth game 17-21, 21-13, 14-21, an in-form Bao Chunlai smashed
Shon Seung Mo 21-9, 21-8.
"I prepared well," said 23-year-old Bao. "I played very confidently."
Before the Chinese male shuttlers' triumph, their female teammates smashed
Japanese peers 3-0 to defend Asian Games champion title.
Shuttler Zhang Ning(L) of China
tosses the flowers towards the audiences after winning over
Japan in the women's badminton team finals in the 15th Doha
Asian Games December 5,2006.[Xinhua]
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Athens Olympic champion
Zhang Ning clinched the opening win for China, beating Japanese top singles
shuttler Kaori Mori, 21-13 and 21-15.
Afterwards, Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen, doubles winners at Athens Olympic
Games, knocked off Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota 21- 8, 21-15.
Yang and Zhang won the first game with little effort but faced a tough
counterattack from Ogura and Shiota in the second game.
"They can always strike back the shot," said Yang, "It's really hard to smash
the shuttle on the half court of theirs."
It was the first time that the world number two pair fought in the first
doubles game at Doha. In the previous three games, world number one Gao Ling and
Huang Sui were the first pair to fight for China.
"I don't exactly know why we are sent on the court as the first doubles in
today's final," said Yang. "But I'm sure either Gao and Huang or Zhang and me
can win over our opponents."
Two-time world champion Xie Xingfang sealed the victory for China with an
effortless win over Eriko Hirose 21-12, 21-15.
"I'm happy for winning my first Asian Games gold medal here," said
25-year-old Xie.
It is China's eighth badminton women's team gold at Asiad.