N Korea stun China in women's TT
North Korea's women table tennis players scored the biggest upset of the Asian
Games so far in Ulsan on Friday, beating China in the team event to
claim the gold medal in dramatic fashion.
China, the reigning World and Olympic champions, had been
expected to breeze through the final after nearly a decade of
unbroken domination that has seen them unrivalled in the
women's game.
Victory was greeted by emotional scenes, with fans from
North and South Korea jubilantly cheering as the players and
coaches of the victorious team wept and hugged each on court.
"I'm so happy about this win, I don't know what to say,"
North Korean coach Ri Hyong-Il said.
"In previous matches against China they have always been
stronger than us, but today I don't think their physical
condition was so good. We played very good and they didn't."
All seemed to be going to plan for China when Zhang
Yining swatted Kim Hyon Hui, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 in the opening
rubber.
But China's plans unravelled spectacularly after Olympic
and World singles champion Wang Nan was beaten in the second
game by Kim Hyang-Mi, losing 11-7, 11-8, 11-6.
The Chinese were put even further on the backfoot when
Kim Yun-Mi came through an epic duel with Li Nan 9-11, 11-9,
11-4, 11-13, 11-9 that handed North Korea a 2-1 lead.
With it all to play for in the fourth rubber, Wang was
unable to put China level against Kim Hyon-Hui.