Chinese rowers failed to live up to expectations as they lost two finals and won as many in the Asian Games on Wednesday.

China's (L-R) Cheng Ran, Yu Chengxi, Gao Yanhua and Mu Suli rest after winning the women's four rowing competition final at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 6, 2006.[Reuters]

In the men's double sculls and women's lightweight double sculls, China finished third and fourth respectively, with title defending dreams dashed.

Uzbekistan snatched men's double sculls gold in three minutes and 16.74 seconds, followed by South Korea in 3:20.01.

China's Su Hui and Cui Yonghui had a powerful start but lagged in the last strokes, taking a bronze in 3:22.47.

Su, reigning champion, and his partner Cui, 1998 Asian Games gold medalist, failed to keep the title for China.

"We are surprised. But we have no complaints as we are not well prepared and I am not in good form." said Cui.

China failed again in the women's lightweight double sculls by finishing fourth in 3:48.14. The gold medal went to Uzbekistan in 3:44.54, which edged Japan into second place in 3:46.03. Thailand was third in 3:47.00.

China's Yu Hua and Yan Shimin, world champion in the women's lightweight double sculls and the lightweight quadruple sculls respectively, said the result was beyond their imagination.

Sevara Ganiyeva of Uzbekistan said: "It's another disappointment for China. I saw the Chinese rowers win the world champion this August but I don't know what happened to them here."

Mirzakhakim Tukhtamirzaev, journalist from Uzbekistan, said that Ganiyeva's trainers are her parents, who have been waiting for the triumph for 15 years and their wish was fulfilled today. Ganiyeva started rowing at 10 and is now 25 years old.

Cui Dalin, assistant to China's sports minister, expressed his dissatisfaction and said: "The result is a warning for other sports."

"It shows that Chinese rowing team needs more hard training." he added.

Cao Jingwei, Chinese team head, said:"We are not well prepared for the Games and actually we wanted to treat the Games as a high- intensity training. Our scull frequency is not enough today,that's the reason we lost."

China saved some face by securing the women's double sculls and women's four.

In the women's double sculls, China's Tian Liang and Li Qin crossed the finish line in 3:41.84, edging South Korea and Kazakhstan, who finished 3:48.15 and 3:49.92 respectively. In the women's four, China led all the way to finish in 3:28.18, with two boat lengths ahead of second-placed DPR Korea which was in 3:33.10.

The bronze medal went to South Korea in 3:33.11.

Defending champion Japan bagged the men's lightweight sculls gold, crossing in 3:19.29, followed by Thailand 3:19.92 and India in 3:26.01.

Kazakhstan came out fourth in 3:30.88.