The men's national team won gold at the 17th Asian table tennis championships in Jejudo, South Korea on Monday, but the day before the women's team failed to reach the finals for the first time in 13 years, beaten 3-2 by the host nation's team.

"There's no excuse for our defeat but weak nerve," said Lu Yuansheng, the Chinese women's head coach. "I think Niu Jianfeng was intimidated well into her first match against Moon Hyun Jung."

The men's team won the title for the fourth consecutive year, their 15th ever, with all three players, Wang Hao, Wang Liqin and Chen Qi, beating their South Korean opponents Ryu Seung, Oh Sang Eun and Lee Jung Woo.

In the women's semifinal, Niu Jianfeng lost to Moon Hyun Jung and Guo Yue to Kim Kyung Ah before Guo Yan got China's first win against Lee Eun Hee. Guo Yue followed by beating Moon, but Kim's victory over Niu ended the team's final place hopes.

"The South Koreans did play smarter than us. They didn't change their lineup but put Moon Hyun Jung in the first game against Niu Jianfeng and left a defensive player (Kim Kyung Ah) for Guo Yue to face in the second game," Lu added.

With the surprising exit of China, Hong Kong of China who had won against Japan 3-0 in the semis, beat South Korea for the title yesterday.

(People's Daily August 29, 2005)