EAST ASIAN GAMES: KOREA STUNS CHINA IN MEN'S TEAM FINAL

May 14, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS)- The Korean men's badminton team surprised China in yesterday's best-of-five-matches championship meet at the East Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea to capture the gold medal. The Koreans won the first three matches in the meet to clinch the championship without having to go the distance.

Because of the proximity of the world badminton championships slated to begin on May 19 in Glasgow, Scotland, both teams were playing without their first-stringers.

Hwang Sun Ho opened up for the Koreans with an upset win over the more experienced and higher-ranked Hu Zhilan, 11-15, 15-10 and 18-15.

Jang Chun Wung made the meet score 2-0 for the Koreans with his three-game victory over Xiao Ting 15-10, 7-15 and 15-7. Lee Dong Soo and Choi Ji Tae then clinched the gold medal for the homestanding Koreans when they wiped out Xiao Ting and Que Ning 15-3 and 15-7.

The jubilant Koreans handed the Chinese the last two matches to set the official meet score at 3 matches to 2. Liang Yongping and Yang Ming were awarded the second men's doubles match 15-0 and 15-0 over Choi Ji Tae and Kim Jung Sook, while Xia Xuanze was recorded as the 15-0 and 15-0 victor over Kim Hyung Joon in the third singles match.

Japan and Taiwan, losers in the semifinals, were awarded the bronze medals.

(jhlee/migrossman)