Japan strikes gold in football

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from China

It was football at its best as Japan created history to win the gold medal in the men’s tournament at the 16th Asian Games here last night. The Japanese have never won an Asian Games before in its 59-year-old history but here in China, the lads from Tokyo rewrote record books with an exciting one goal to nil win over UAE in the final.

Yuki Saneto became an instant hero when he scored the only goal in the 74th minute. Korea took the bronze after defeating Iran 4-3. The right back drove home with a powerful strike into the far corner in the 74th minute. And UAE had to settle for their first-ever medal in the tournament being silver. Both sides created few clear chances in the first half. UAE had the best opportunity in the 34th minute when Omar Abdulrahman Al Amoudi found a sharp space but several Japanese defenders threw themselves in to foil the attack.

UAE tried desperately to get back into the game and find that equalizer goal but failed to beat Japan’s resolute defense, which had conceded only once in Guangzhou.

Goalkeeper Housani even joined the UAE attack for one final set-piece but it was to no avail and Japan took home the gold for the first time at the Asian Games since 1951. Adding another gold for the host nation’s rich harvest at the 45-nation Games was their women’s basketball team. China won the gold medal in women’s basketball when they beat South Korea 70-64 in the final. Japan accounted for the bronze after defeating Taiwan 73-61 in the third place play-off.

Olympic diving champion He Chong, the last torch bearer in the opening ceremony, defended his Men’s 3m Springboard glory before home folks while 14-year-old Hu Yadan eased to the Women’s Platform win.

In Boxing, China created their best result at the Asian Games with two gold medals.

The Guangzhou Games saw the women’s fight for the first time after the event was included into the London Olympics last August.

Newly-crowned world champion Ren Cancan became the first Asiad women boxing gold medalist after she beat Albania Annie of the Philippines 7-5 in the women’s 51kg final. Olympic silver medalist Zhang Zhilei won the Men’s Over 91kg by beating Ivan Dychko of Kazakhstan 7-5 to bring the second gold.

Defending champion Hu Qing of China and his compatriot Chang Yong took the silver in Men’s 60kg and 52kg category, which were won by Indian Krishan Vikas and Rey Saludar of Philippines respectively.

Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan triumphed in the Men’s 69kg and the Men’s 81kg, while glory went to Elshod Rasulov of Uzbekistan. Zhang Zhilei of China won the gold medal in men’s 91kg boxing, beating Ivan Dychko of Kazakhstan 7-5 in the final.

Kazakhstan’s men’s water Polo team squeezed past China 7-6 and the women’s gymnasts defended the rhythmic gymnastics team title.

The Wrestling finals offered Uzbekistan’s Artur Taymazov a gold medal in the Men’s Freestyle 120kg and So Sim Hyang from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took the women’s Freestyle 48kg. Reza Yazdani captured Men’s Freestyle 96kg as Iran lifted the title in this particular category for the fourth time running. - GUANGZHOU, Friday