Asian Games Remembered as Symbols of Peace and Unity

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, October 15, 2002

Asian Games Remembered as Symbols of Peace and Unity

All 43 members of the Olympic Council of Asia and newly-independent East Timor competed in the Sept. 29-Oct. 14 games as China dominated the overall medal race with 150 gold medals and South Korea chalked up 95 to beat arch rival Japan into a distant third with 44.

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From Afghanistan to DPR Korea, it was a full house for the first time in the 52-year history of the Asian Games.

All 43 members of the Olympic Council of Asia and newly-independent East Timor competed in the Sept. 29-Oct. 14 games as China dominated the overall medal race with 150 gold medals and South Korea chalked up 95 to beat arch rival Japan into a distant third with 44.

It was a happy gathering as 39 countries and regions made it tothe medal table and 27 joined the gold tally. In last games, 33 won medals and 23 got gold.

Roia Zamani, a Kabul resident, brought joy to war-weary Afghanistan by winning a bronze in the 72kg category of women's taekwondo.

Inspired by a blood-written message on her wrist from friends, Ham Pong-sil won the women's marathon to cap DPR Korea's first ever presence in a multi-sport event held in South Korea.

A chapter of history was written when, as symbols of peace and unity, the joined hands of North and South Koreans and a mingling of flames sent from all over Asia touched off warm cheers in the opening ceremony.

Two Koreas met basketball, table tennis, softball and many other venues, cheered on by Koreans from South and North. Competition took a backseat when the symbol of unity really mattered.

China garnered 150 gold medals to top the Asian Games for the sixth straight time as Chinese women's swimmer Xu Yanwei became the most titled with five gold medals. The sweetest victory for Chinese is their 20-11 win in the swimming pool over Japan, who beat China 15-13 in the Bangkok Games.

However, the show of this games belonged to Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima, who smashed American Mike Barrowman's 10-year-old200m breaststroke record -- the oldest men's record standing.

"I honestly didn't know I was going that fast. It was only whenI hit the wall and looked up that I realized it was a world record," said Kitajima after clocking 2:09.97, the first man ever below 2:10. Barrowman's 2:10.16 had stood since 1992.

The smear of drugs reared its ugly head when Indian gold medalist Sunita Rani tested positive twice after her 5,000m and 1,500m races. She won the 5,000m and finished third over 1,500.

A Lebanese bodybuilder had been stripped of the bronze medal after refusing to take the doping test.

South Korea was successful both as a host and a competitor.

With expertise in hosting sporting events, high-quality venues,advanced information technology and the help of enthusiastic volunteers, Busan has delivered one of the best Asian Games.

South Korea won a total 95 gold medals, its all-time high and two more than its record when its capital Seoul hosted the games in 1986.

The host landed four gold medals on the last day of the games as China claimed the women's basketball championship.

South Korea's Lee Bong-ju clocked two hours 14.03 minutes to win the men's marathon. The host pairs Ra Kyung-min and Lee Kyung-won, and Lee Gong-soo and Yoo Young-sung won the men's and women'sdoubles titles.

Taufik Hidayat claimed the only badminton title for Indonesia as he beat South Korean Lee Hyun-il in the men's singles.

Mikaela Maria Jaworski of the Philippines won the individual show jumping event.

Chinese women basketballers held off a strong late surge from South Korea to win 80-76 and defend their crown.

Wrapping up the Asian Games, the South Korean men's basketball team edged defending champion China 102-100 in extra time.

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