DOHA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- China regained its status
as the No.1fencing power in Asia with its fencers snatching two more gold medals
from their South Korean challengers in the women's epee team and men's sabre
team events at the 15th Asian Games here on Wednesday.
The sabre team final was a repeat of the individual
event, where Wang Jingzhi of China staged a gripping duel against Oh Eun Seok of
South Korea, and the result was decided by a last win-deciding touch.
In the first bout, individual gold medallist Wang won
5-4 against Won Woo Young. Individual silver medallist Oh Eun Seok then defeated
Huang Yaojiang to allow the South Koreans a 10-8 lead.
In the third bout, Zhou Hanming of China conceded
only three touches to Lee Hyuk to lead 15-13. The two teams were neck-and-neck
in the following bouts, but the South Koreans won a 35-33 lead after the seventh
bout.
In the penultimate bout, Zhou won back points for
China to lead40-38 despite an injured shoulder.
In the last three minutes, Wang Jingzhi sabred
powerful enough to lead 44-41. But Oh's intensified attacks helped him even the
score 44-44.
At the crucial second, Wang was confident enough to
hit a win-deciding touch to seal the game 45-44 to the cheering of his
teammates.
"I love it. I have experienced a moment like that in
the individual game. Now it came again and I think I have been more confident
than before," said an exciting Wang.
Wang, the silver medallist at Busan in 2002, also
thought he was more mature both in skills and mentality than four years ago.
In the women's team epee, China scored an easier
victory against South Korea. Throughout all the bouts, the Chinese maintained
their lead over South Korea before leading female epeeist Li Na sealed the game
43-36 in the last bout.
Yoon Nam Jin, coach of the South Korean team, said
after the match that they were satisfied with a silver, saying that "they (the
Chinese players) are a step above us in skills."
China is the winner of the women's team epee gold
medal in the 2006 World Championships.
China coach Zhao Gang said they have made specific
preparations for South Koreans. "Li Na and Luo Xiaojuan played very well in the
final. The other players did not play so well, but it did not affect the overall
performance."
So far, 10 of 12 fencing finals had been decided at
the Doha Asian Games. China led the table with seven golds. South Korea, the
No.1 gold winner at Busan, had two and Japan won one.