China fight past South Korea for badminton gold

INCHEON: China beat South Korea to take women´s team badminton gold at the Asian Games Monday after a fierce battle which saw Korea´s top seed break down in tears at her defeat.

The Chinese favourites, who included the world´s top three singles players, won 3-0 overall in a scoreline which belied the hosts´ brave performances.

Distraught star Sung Ji-Hyun could not contain her grief after losing to top seed Li Xuerui in a 2-1 duel, having never taken a single game off the world number one in their seven previous meetings.

The 23-year-old world number four fought to a brilliant lead in the opening match, taking the first game 21-17 with epic rallies stirring up a cheering home crowd as an unsettled Li put shots long and wide.

Sung tired in the second set, losing 21-13 before rallying once more in the third, going into the break just a point down. But Li´s artillery of shots and lightning quick returns finally broke over-stretched Sung who yielded 21-16 in the 65-minute tussle.

Sixth-ranked Bae Yeon-Ju also managed to take the first game off world number two Wang Shixian but with a deafening crowd chanting her name as she tried to seal victory in the third, she agonisingly lost it 21-19.

Doubles pair Kim So-Yeong and Chang Ye-Na took their first game against Zhao Yunlei and Tian Qing in the second match, but none of the Korean challengers could convert their leads into victories. (AFP)