GUANGZHOU, China: Olympic swimming champion Kosuke Kitajima flopped to finish outside the medals Monday as the Chinese Asian Games goldrush gathered steam. The Japanese icon, who clinched double breaststroke gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was widely expected to win over 100m here but faded badly to finish fourth behind teammate Ryo Tateishi. It was a stunning upset for Kitajima, who was attempting to win the 100-200m double for the third straight Asiad. Tateishi clocked 1:00.38 with Kazakhstan's Vladislav Polyakov taking silver and Wang Shuai of China the bronze. China has dominated the pool so far and it won another five of the seven golds available Monday with Japan's Ryo Tateishi's victory in the men's 100m breaststroke, the only other non-Chinese triumph. Elsewhere, South Korea's shooters secured their best ever gold medal haul even as China powered on towards a top finish in the competition. The Koreans ended the third day with eight golds, already their highest tally in one edition of the Games after winning seven at home in Seoul in 1986 and again in Hiroshima in 1994. China nudged ahead with the other 10 golds decided so far, looking set to match – or surpass – the 27 titles they won in the 44-event competition at Doha four years ago. On the badminton courts, the Chinese woman shuttlers overwhelmed Thailand to win the team title, with No. 1 Wang Xin leading the way by beating Intanon Ratchanok, but she was pushed to three sets Superstar Lin Dan spearheards Cina in the men's final against South Korea later. China also won gold in the men's individual all-round gymnastics when Teng Haibin convincingly beat teammate Lu Bo and Japan's Hisashi Mizutori. A day after Li Ping set two new world records at the Dongguan weightlifting arena, North Korea's Kim Kum Sok broke the Chinese stranglehold by claiming the men's -69kg title. He finished ahead of Mortaza Rezaeian on lower body weight after they both finished tied on an aggregate of 324kg. China's 2009 world champion Li Xueying won the women's -58kg class. World No. 11 Li Na, meanwhile, swept aside fellow WTA Tour professional Tamarine Tanasugarn as China defeated Thailand to reach the women's tennis team final. Li clinched a 6-2, 6-1 win while Peng Shuai was equally impressive in a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over former Wimbledon junior champion Noppawan Lertcheewakarn. Qatar, China toppled Defending champion Qatar has been knocked out of the football tournament in an extra-time loss to Uzbekistan, while South Korea dumped host China 3-0 in second-round matches Monday. Ivan Nagaev scored in extra time after the match was locked 0-0 at the end of regulation, sending Uzbekistan into a quarterfinal against South Korea. Four-time champion Iran beat Malaysia 3-1 to make the quarterfinals where it will face Oman who trounced Hong Kong 3-0. Pakistan in semis Pakistan reached the women's cricket semifinals Monday with a nine-wicket rout of China which left the host needing to win its last group game to stay alive. China was restricted to just 60-4 when it batted first Monday with Pakistan cruising to victory in the 13th over. Javeria Wadood (27 not out) and Nida Rashid (27) put on 60 for the first wicket for Pakistan with Wadood hitting her fourth boundary to bring up victory. Bangladesh made sure of top spot in Group B, and also a place in the last four, with a 54-run win over Japan. Bangladesh was in complete control against Japan and racked up 111-8 off its 20 overs. Japan struggled to 57-8 in reply, but having seen off Nepal in its first match, they are still favourites to also make the last four.
