South Korea beat a second-string Chinese team 79-73 to win the Asian women's basketball championship for the first time in eight years on Sunday.

The championship in the 22nd regional tournament was South Korea's first since it won the 14th one, which was held in Japan in 1999.

On Saturday, South Korea qualified for the women's basketball tournament of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by beating Chinese Taipei.

China, who qualify for the Beijing Olympics automatically as hosts, sent youngsters to the tournament.

In the earlier third-place game, Japan beat Chinese Taipei 73-70 and also qualified for the Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2007)