Games Round-up: South Korea and China Lead Gold Medals Race, One World Record Fall at Universiade

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 25, 2003

Games Round-up: South Korea and China Lead Gold Medals Race, One World Record Fall at Universiade

South Korea and China pulled away in overall gold medals race as the two countries took away eight out of 16 gold on offer Sunday at the 22nd World University Games.

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Tan Xue Take the women's Saber Individual Title.

South Korea and China pulled away in overall gold medals race as the two countries took away eight out of 16 gold on offer Sunday at the 22nd World University Games.

The fourth full day of competition also witnessed an archery world record fall at the Olympic-style event which runs through Aug.31.

The US archery team, composed of Mary Zorn, Amber Dawson and Megan Bowker, scored 2,033 points to beat the old mark of 2,012 for the women's compound 70m team event. The previous best was setby Germany in 2002.

The South Korean team also broke the world record with 2,015 points.

Chinese Diving Team Collects First Two Golds at Universiade

Zorn, gold medalist of the individual compound at last month's world championships, tied the world record with 687 points.

South Korea landed three golds, all from taekwondo, to remain atop the medals table with eight gold and two silver. China, who topped the overall medal tally with 54 gold at last Universiade in2001, won both diving events and garnered more in swimming, fencing and taekwondo to increase its medal haul to seven golds, three silvers and four bronzes. Russia surged to third place afterpicking up three golds, two silvers and four bronzes.

World champion Luo Xuejuan sprinted to the first swimming gold for China as she clinched the women's 50m breaststroke title.

The 19-year-old, who won 50m and 100m as well as 4X100m medley relay at the Barcelona world championships last month, clocked a fastest time of 31.39 seconds, beating Australian Jade Edmistone into second at 31.74. American Ashley Roby was third in 31.92.

"I'm pleased with her performance tonight as she overcame the injury to win," said Chinese team coach Zhang Yadong.

"I thought she would have broken the world record judging from the morning heats results, but her injury stopped her from doing better," he added.

Luo, who suffered a minor waist injury and had to receive treatment right before the race, set a Universiade record in 31.15in the morning's heats.

China's second gold in the pool came from Ouyang Kunpeng, who triumphed in the men's 200m backstroke, touching in 1:59.17, a newGames record. Japan's Takashi Nakano grabbed the silver in 2:01.60,followed by American Christian De Jong.

Wu Minxia led a Chinese 1-2 finish in the women's 1m springboard final, winning the gold medal with a total of 309.99 points. Her compatriot Guo Jingjing, the reigning world champion in the 3m springboard, had to settle for the silver with a narrow margin of 0.27 point. Russia's Nataliya Umyskova was third on 277.711 points.

"It is my first Universiade outing so I'm glad to win the gold,"said the 18-year-old Wu.

Peng Bo and Wang Kenan of China proved a class beyond their opponents in the men's 3m synchronized as they led all the way through the five-round final, scoring 347.13 points, nearly 42 points higher than second-placed Jorge Marinez and Omar Ojeda of Mexico.

Chinese fencer Tan Xue defeated Russia's Elena Nechaeva 15-8 inthe final to take the women's saber individual title.

"I didn't play well in the preliminary rounds, but I gradually gained my form," said the 19-year-old Tan, who was the first Chinese to win a world championship title in 2002.

Bao Yingying, who lost 15-8 to Tan in the semifinals, added a bronze medal for China.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Lukashenko outscored local favorite Oh Eun-seok 15-8 in the men's saber final.

South Korea continued its gold rush in taekwondo as Choi Seong-ho emerged as the men's -84kg winner, Park Tae-Youl grabbed the men 's -62kg title and Kim Mi-Hyun won the men's -72kg crown.

In the women's -55kg final, the only one without a South Koreancompeting Sunday, China's Zhao Ya scored a 9-1 victory over Chang Chiung-fang of Chinese Taipei to snatch the gold.

Japanese swimmer Matsuda Takeshi won the men's 200m butterfly in a Games record time of one minute 57.44 seconds. The silver went to Serhiy Advena of Ukraine in 1:58.74 and Bahamas' Jeremy Knowles took the bronze in 1:59.21.

Rebecca Cooke won Britain's first gold, clocking 8:33.34 to winthe women's 800m freestyle. Chen Hua of China was edged into second place, 1.86 seconds behind. Ukraine's Olga Beresnyeva took the bronze in 8:36.66.

France also opened gold account after winning the women's 400 freestyle relay final in 3:45.50, followed by the United States and China.

Sergey Gerasimov of Russia swam to a Universiade best of 2:13.78 to win the men's 200m breaststroke. The silver went to Daisuke Kimura of Japan, with Irish Michae Willamson placing third.

Russian gymnast Irina Chashchina topped every discipline for a total of 113.333 points to claim the women's rhythmic individual all-around title. Anna Bezsonova of Ukraine took the silver with 110.008, and Russian Zarina Gizkova was third on 109.241.

Zhong Ling and Zhu Minhong, both of China, finished distant sixth and ninth respectively.

Russia later bagged another gold from rhythmic gymnastics, the group multiple event. Japan claimed the silver and South Korea thebronze.

In men's soccer, China, who upset Uruguay 2-0 in their last group match Sunday, finished second in group D with one win and two losses. But they still advanced to the quarterfinals thanks toa better goal difference than Uruguay.

"I'm very satisfied with my players," said Jin Zhiyang, head coach of the Chinese team. "They deserved the win."

Iran, who overcame Canada 2-1 on Sunday, topped group A with three straight victories.

The host team were eliminated after losing 1-0 to Italy. Thailand joined Italy in the last eight after trouncing Ireland 4-0.

The Chinese women's soccer team headed into the quarterfinals with a 4-0 drubbing of Chinese Taipei. Japan scored a comfortable 5-0 victory over New Zealand, while DPR Korea trounced France 9-0 in a one-sided match.

Russia extended their winning streak in the men's basketball tournament with a 92-88 victory over Canada. China crushed Mexico 100-73 while defending champions Serbia and Montenegro defeated Finland 85-60.

The South Korean men's volleyball team progressed to the quarterfinals after thrashing Thailand 3-0.

In women's action, China suffered a shock defeat, losing 25-16,21-25, 25-18, 25-27, 13-15 to Ukraine.

"Ukraine turned out to be stronger than we had expected," said Chinese coach Xing Chungui.

"Despite the loss, I'm confident that we will reach the quarterfinals," he added.

China will take on Italy Monday and Mexico the following day.

Track and field events are to kick off on Monday as 26 gold medal are up for grabs.

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