China regained its status as the No.1fencing power in Asia with its
fencers snatching two more gold medals from their South Korean challengers in
the women's epee team and men's sabre team events at the 15th Asian
Games in Doha yesterday.
The sabre team final was a repeat of the individual event, where Wang Jingzhi
of China staged a gripping duel against Oh Eun Seok of South Korea, and the
result was decided by a last win-deciding touch.
In the first bout, individual gold medallist Wang won 5-4 against Won Woo
Young. Individual silver medallist Oh Eun Seok then defeated Huang Yaojiang to
allow the South Koreans a 10-8 lead.
In the third bout, Zhou Hanming of China conceded only three touches to Lee
Hyuk to lead 15-13. The two teams were neck-and-neck in the following bouts, but
the South Koreans won a 35-33 lead after the seventh bout.
In the penultimate bout, Zhou won back points for China to lead40-38 despite
an injured shoulder.
In the last three minutes, Wang Jingzhi sabred powerful enough to lead 44-41.
But Oh's intensified attacks helped him even the score 44-44.
At the crucial second, Wang was confident enough to hit a win-deciding touch
to seal the game 45-44 to the cheering of his teammates.
"I love it. I have experienced a moment like that in the individual game. Now
it came again and I think I have been more confident than before," said an
exciting Wang.
Wang, the silver medallist at Busan in 2002, also thought he was more mature
both in skills and mentality than four years ago.
In the women's team epee, China scored an easier victory against South Korea.
Throughout all the bouts, the Chinese maintained their lead over South Korea
before leading female epeeist Li Na sealed the game 43-36 in the last bout.
Yoon Nam Jin, coach of the South Korean team, said after the match that they
were satisfied with a silver, saying that "they (the Chinese players) are a step
above us in skills."
China is the winner of the women's team epee gold medal in the 2006 World
Championships.
China coach Zhao Gang said they have made specific preparations for South
Koreans. "Li Na and Luo Xiaojuan played very well in the final. The other
players did not play so well, but it did not affect the overall performance."
So far, 10 of 12 fencing finals had been decided at the Doha Asian Games.
China led the table with seven golds. South Korea, the No.1 gold winner at
Busan, had two and Japan won one.
