ASIAN GAMES Women’s Team Final – A fifth for China!

Years go by and China still remains unmatched in women’s team events. Once again, the Chinese team prevailed in spite of being severely shaken by a willing Korean team. With a squad full of experience and numerously crowned players, the title could only head back to Beijing.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Incheon.  Photos: Don Hearn and CFP (live)

China came out on top again for the fifth consecutive times, in the Asian Games women team event, after a 3-0 win over South Korea.  The match score implies a convincing win overall, but each of the three was a tightly fought contest with a serious challenge offered by the Korean ladies.

First to step onto court was South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun (pictured right). Despite great efforts, she couldn’t hold the Olympic Champion and let the first point to the Chinese team. Both players offered the best opening match they could have, with long rallies and variety of shots through the three games battle.

However, despite the win, Li Xuerui (pictured below) joined most of the players in criticizing the constant wind going on through the whole: “The wind is pretty strong and I had difficulties at first controlling it, but my coach told me to use it to win and that is what I did.”

After the match, Sung Ji Hyun had difficulties answering questions from the press, looking absolutely devastated from her loss.  It may have been the first time she won a game against Li Xuerui but it was also her 11th career loss to the Chinese ace, including three she suffered in their junior days.

Another thriller followed with the women’s doubles match featuring the newly crowned World Champions Zhao Yunlei and Tian Qing (pictured top).  The Chinese pair – who had lost to Jang and Eom Hye Won at last year’s Worlds – looked close to undergoing another upset against an on fire pair of Jang Ye Na, now with Kim So Young.

Both Koreans fought like no one to challenge the Chinese pair, with great defense despite the Chinese’ constant strong attacks. Still, the experience of the Olympic and world champs prevailed in a hard-fought three-game match.

“It is a real pity, we couldn’t control the wind at the end, I think that is what made the difference, though it was close,” analyzed Jang Ye Na in her post-match interview.

Bae Yeon Ju did want to win the match against Wang Shixian (pictured right), the Asian Games title holder and a player Bae has came close to beating in several occasions. However, Wang Shixian proved to not only be a highly skilled player, she displayed her strong mental abilities by mastering her nerves despite the crowd shouting loudly for their home player and Bae Yeon Ju’s excellent retrieving.

Chen Long’s girlfriend sealed the game in a third and last thriller to help China keep the title at home for the next four years and extended her own winning streak against her opponent to 13 times.

Women’s Team Final Result: China 3, Korea 0
WS1: Li Xuerui (CHN) beat Sung Ji Hyun (KOR)  17-21, 21-13, 21-16
WD1:  Zhao Yunlei / Tian Qing (CHN) beat Jang Ye Na / Kim So Young (KOR)  19-21, 21-7, 21-12
WS2:  Wang Shixian (CHN) beat Bae Yeon Ju (KOR) 12-21, 21-16, 21-19
WD2: Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang (CHN) vs. Jung Kyung Eun / Kim Ha Na (KOR) [not played]
WS3: Wang Yihan (CHN) vs. Koh Eun Byeol (KOR) [not played]

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