CHANGCHUN, Northeast China, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese women ice hockey players started their revenge with a big win while Japan struggled at the sixth Asian Winter Games here on Sunday.

    China, ranked atop in Asia and the seventh in the world, displayed their strength by trouncing South Korea 20-0.

    "I am happy to start in this way," said Jorma Siitarien, the head coach of the Chinese team. "We played 60 minutes in full speed, although probably we can score more."

    China had won two straight titles since women's ice hockey was introduced into the Winter Asiad in 1996 before they were beaten to the third in the last edition in Aomori, Japan in 2003.

    "The result four years ago doesn't mean anything to the team now," said Siitarien. "This afternoon Japan and DPRK played a good match. They are both strong, and so are the Kazaks."

    However, the Chinese had their ambition in recapturing the gold medal.

    "Our team is young, but they really have good chance to beat all these teams," said Siitarien.

    In the opener of the women's ice hockey earlier, Japan, the runners-up in Aomori, won a tough match against DPR Korea 3-2.

    "This is our first match, and it is a good start," said KohichiSatoh, head coach of the Japanese team, which ranked 10th in the world, eight positions higher than DPR Korea. "There is not so large a gap between us, and the score is not surprising."

    However, he admitted that China are the best in Asia and the chance for Japan to win their clash next Wednesday is "40 percent".

    DPR Korea took an early lead on 2:56 while the Japanese scored twice in five minutes in the later half of the first period to overtake and never looked back again.

    The gold medal of the women's ice hockey, featuring five teams, will be decided on February 3 after a round robin. Reigning champion Kazakhstan will have their first match against DPR Korea on Monday.

    The sixth Asian Winter Games officially opens later Sunday evening.