Thailand and Hong Kong women, RI men shuttlers win
Thailand and Hong Kong women, RI men shuttlers win
Agence France-Presse, Busan
Thailand and Hong Kong scored identical 3-2 wins over Malaysia
and Japan, respectively, in the women's badminton team
championships of the Asian Games here on Sunday.
China and South Korea have got byes and directly play the
semifinals.
Thailand's two doubles combinations pulled the team through
after 1998 bronze medalist Sujitra Eakmongkolpaisarn had started
their campaign with a easy 11-5, 11-3 win over Wong Mew Choo
before Mee Fen and Wong Miew Kheng both won singles matches for
Malaysia.
Thai coach Sompol Kookasamkit said his team triumphed despite
not having enough options in singles.
"We're a team of just four players, so we have to manage our
resources very well. Our government did not clear a request for
eight players for the Games," he said.
"It wasn't easy for us, but now we're happy to have entered
the semifinals."
Defending champion Indonesia had to work harder for a 3-1 win
over Thailand. Its top player Taufik Hidayat and the two doubles
combinations did the job for them.
Indonesian coach Agus Dwi Santoso said the team management was
evaluating the players' performance, especially that of Rony
Augustinus, who lost his singles match.
"Tomorrow is a crucial tie (against China) and we'll decide
our combination early in the morning," he said.
Thailand meet hosts, and second seeds, South Korea in the
semi-finals.
Hong Kong too was stretched to the wire by Japan as their top
player Wang Chen was beaten by Kanako Yonekura.
However, Wang, a former Chinese player who is ranked fifth in
the world, won a doubles tie along with Koon Wai-chee.
Hong Kong take on favourites and top seeds China in the semi-
finals.
Meanwhile, in the seven-nation men's tournament, Malaysia and
host South Korea notched up easy 3-0 wins to make the semifinals.
Top seed China has got a direct entry into the semifinals to
be played on Monday.
The women's team finals are scheduled for Tuesday followed by
the men's team finals on Wednesday.
The individual and doubles events commence on Thursday.
A total of seven gold medals are at stake in badminton - men's
singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, mixed doubles
and the two team events.
India's Shiv Kapur, meanwhile, was singing in the rain on
Sunday when he ended his country's 20-year gold medal drought at
golf in the Asian Games.
Kapur, one of the top ranked college players in the United
States, shot a two-under-par 70 in the rain at Asiad Country Club
to beat great rival Rohana Anura of Sri Lanka by three shots.
The duo had started the final day level on 214 but Kapur
revelled in the rain while Anura shot one-over-par 73. Kapur
finished on four-under-par 284 (70-75-69-70).
"When I saw the rain this morning I thought I had an advantage
over my rivals," said a delighted Kapur.
"I am used to playing in bad weather in the United States. I
did not let the weather get to me. It was a good test of my golf
today and I stood up to it.
"I went for birdies and when I found myself playing
tentatively I shook myself up."
Kapur said he had been inspired by talking to Lakshman Singh,
who won the gold medal for India at the Asian Games in New Delhi
in 1982.
"I heard all about the thrill of winning a gold from him,"
said Kapur, who started playing golf at nine "to be like my dad."
"Lakshman Singh is now a selector for the Indian team and his
tales of the Asian Games win in 1982 really inspired me. India
also won the team gold that year - it has been a long wait for
another gold."