China and Japan entered the final of the women's badminton team event after
they swept South Korea and Singapore respectively at the 15th Asian Games here
on Monday.
Defending champion China trampled South Korea 3-0 through efforts of top two
singles Zhang Ning, Xie Xingfang and world No.1doubles pair Gao Ling and Huang
Sui.
Athens Olympic champion Zhang Ning showed no sign of age in front of
21-year-old Lee Yun Hwa, 10 years younger than Zhang. Zhang knocked off Lee
21-14 and 21-7 in 19 minutes.
"I felt that I played better and better in three games," said Zhang,
"Besides, my opponent today was weaker than the one I met earlier."
In her first appearance in Doha, Zhang won a close battle against Malaysian
Wong Mew Choo 19-21, 21-18 and 21-18.
"I don't know what's wrong with me," said Zhang after Thursday's game, "I
felt I moved too slowly on the court while my rival is a good runner indeed."
Following Zhang's victory, world champions Gao Ling and Huang Sui clinched an
easy win, beating Lee Kyung Won and Huang Yu Mi 21-11, 21-8.
Xie Xingfang concluded the match for China in the third game, smashing Lee
Hyun Jin 21-7 and 21-13.
Li Yongbo, head coach of the Chinese badminton team, said the unbeatable
Chinese women's lineup had not face any challenges at the Asian Games.
"The South Korean shuttlers looked tired today as they had to play two
matches yesterday to take the last semifinal berth. Besides, they might think
that it was impossible to defeat their Chinese peers, so they weren't aggressive
at all."
In Monday's first semifinal, Japan, unexpectedly edging South Korea in the
group stage, finished off Singapore 3-0.
Japanese top singles player Kaori Mori knocked off Chinese-bornLi Li 21-19,
21-11 in the opener. It was Maori's first win in her three outings at Doha, as
the 27-year-old veteran was defeated by South Korean Hag Hye Yeon and Cheng Shao
Chieh from Chinese Taipei respectively in the group stage.
"I'm happy for making a contribution for my team," said Mori.
After Mori's victory, Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota triumphed over Jiang
Yanmei and Li Yujia 23-21, 21-14.
Ogura and Shiota dropped behind 7-1 in the beginning of the second set, but
bounced back strongly to take 10 points in a row.
Eriko Hirose complete a finishing stroke for Japan, beating Xing Aiying
21-14, 12-21, 21-18.
The final between Japan and China is scheduled on Tuesday. "Japan is stronger
than South Korea," said Li Yongbo.