Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 20, 2004
China defends Asian women's basketball crown
China outscored Japan 92-80 to take the Asian women's basketball championship in Sendai, Japan on Monday, as both sides qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Games. In a third-place playoff earlier, South Korea beat Chinese Taipei to secure the last slot in Asia for the Athens Olympic Games.
China successfully defended its Asian title, beating finalist Japan 92-80 at the Asian women's basketball championship in Sendai on Monday, while third-placed South Korea also booked its berth for the Athens Olympics Games.
The Chinese women, also winners at the Asian Games, chalked up a commanding lead in the first three quarters before quashing a late challenge to beat Japan 92-80 in the final.
It was China's eighth Asian title, denying Japan its first victory in 34 years since 1970.
South Korea bounced back from its surprise semi-final defeat to Japan to beat Chinese Taipei 88-59 in the third-place competition.
The Koreans, silver medallists at the Busan Asian Games two years ago, finished fourth at both the Sydney Olympics and the 2002 world championships.