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China triumph across spectrum of sports in Doha

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-14 09:55

China continued to greedily gobble up gold at the Asian Games on Wednesday, dominating across the spectrum of sports.

China's gold medallist Guo Shuang (R) and silver medallist, compatriot Gong Jinjie, hold up their national flag on the podium after the women's sprint race track cycling final at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 13, 2006. [Reuters]

With Qatar bracing itself for more cold weather, high winds and rain, the Chinese hot streak showed no sign of cooling off.

By the end of the 12th day of competition the world's most populous nation had racked up 147 golds - just three shy of their total for Pusan in 2002.

They hold the record for golds with 183 in Beijing in 1990.

South Korea are in second spot with 51.

Having won just a solitary boxing gold medal in Games history, China rapidly trebled that count on Wednesday.

Zou Shiming outclassed Thailand's Suban Pannon to win the light flyweight final before Hu Qing won gold in the lightweight division.

Zou outscored his Thai navy officer opponent by 21 points to one when the referee declared the contest over after one minute, 36 seconds of round two.

"I didn't expect to win so easily," said the 25-year-old from Guizhou. "I thought this match would be very tough."

VERY YOUNG

Hu beat Mongolia's Munkh Erdine Uranchimeg 38-22 in his final.

China's only previous Asian Games boxing champion had been Bai Chongguang, who won the light heavyweight title at the Beijing Games 16 years ago.

China's hockey women stormed to gold and booked their place in the 2008 Beijing Olympics with victory over Japan.

The silver medallist Japanese also booked their Beijing berth but India, who took bronze over South Korea, must still qualify.

Japan were also pipped at the post in the women's soccer final, losing on penalties to North Korea who picked up their sixth gold.

China's Wu Minxia added another gold medal to her growing collection at the Hamad Aquatic Centre by winning the women's 3m springboard final.

"I just did my own performance, I didn't think about the others' performances," she said. "I just wanted to do well in each of my dives and keep a high quality."

FEUDING PARTNER

"But I didn't do well in my last dive. At the time I felt a little nervous, I made a mistake. It's a pity for me not to do it well."

At the tennis Zheng Jie silenced hundreds of raucous Indian fans by defeating Sania Mirza 6-4 1-6 6-1 for a Chinese women's singles gold. "It was tough," a beaming Zheng told reporters.

Mirza had something to smile about later in the day, though, when she partnered Leander Paes to mixed doubles gold.

"I'm delighted to finally get a gold," Mirza told reporters. "It has been 10 long days and I'm exhausted."

Paes ended the day with two gold medals having earlier teamed up with feuding partner Mahesh Bhupathi to win the men's doubles.

The pair saved seven match points in the second set to overcome 24-year-old Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 5-7 7-6 6-3.

"We fought hard and won by the skin of our teeth," said Paes, who won a record sixth Asian Games gold in tennis.