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)
