China wins volleyball double
Posted: Tuesday December 15, 1998 12:52 PM
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- China won double gold in the Asian Games volleyball competition Tuesday, beating archrivals South Korea in both finals.
It was the fourth time China won both gold medals in the same Asian Games, following dual victories in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
China's women's team avenged its loss to the Koreans in the world championship last month and the 1994 Asian Games final. The men's team also scored a four-set victory.
China's women's team coach Lang Ping said her team had to battle hard to win its match 15-6, 13-15, 15-8, 15-13.
"The South Korean team is great in controlling the rhythm," Lang said. "But our players also made the best performance."
"We met our expectation," said Lang, who was famous member of the Chinese team when it took five successive titles in World Championship, World Cup and Olympic Games in the 1980s.
Chinese veteran player Lawen Lai said Korea had been a tough opponent.
"Korea in many ways has skill placing above the Chinese, they're quicker and defensively they're better," Lawen said.
Both teams started with a defensive setup to counter the strong crosscourt attack of their rivals.
In the third place playoff, Japan beat host Thailand for the bronze medal.
The Chinese men's team won its final 15-7, 15-11, 10-15, 15-9.
China dominated with its strong defensive block and they often brought three players into a blocking position.
Head coach Wang Jiawei, also a former star player, said the win was the start of big things for his team.
"We will march on, march on to the world," Wang said.
In the bronze medal match Taiwan defeated defending champion Japan 3-2.
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