In women's soccer, Asian champions North Korea and main rivals China and Japan have opened their qualifying round games for the Athens Olympics with easy wins in Japan.

China trounced Myanmar 11-0 in their Group B match in Hiroshima, while North Korea, also the Asian Games gold medallists in 2002, powered past Taiwan 5-0 in Group A. In Tokyo, Japan hammered 7 unanswered goals past Vietnam in their Group C match.

Promising Chinese star Teng Wei found the net four times, with veteran Li Jie scoring a hat-trick.

After this comfortable victory, China will take on Guam Tuesday and face South Korea, their formidable rivals in the group, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Yau Ka-wai scored twice to give Hong Kong a 2-0 win over Singapore in Group A, while Asian silver medallists South Korea whipped Guam 7-0 in Group B.

Eleven teams have been divided into three groups in the preliminary round and the top team from each group and the best runner-up will reach the semi-finals, with the two finalists qualifying for Athens.

Source: China Radio International