2006 Asian Games

[Brinyi]

Rider's death overshadows day

Doha, Qatar (dpa) - The equestrian competition was overshadowed by the death of South Korean rider Kim Hyung Chil. The 47-year-old father of two, who won silver at the last Asian Games, was competing in the cross-country component of the equestrian eventing competition when his horse Bundaberg Black was caught on the eighth obstacle in wet and difficult conditions and fell onto him.

The president of the South Korean Olympic Committee Kim Jung Kil said that they were expecting the Asian Games Organizing Committee and the international equestrian federation (FEI) to fully investigate the incident. "We need to know whether it was the rain or the mismanagement of organizers that led to this accident."

[Brinyi]

Srichaphan pulls out of men's singles at Asiad

Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan has pulled out of the men's singles event at the 15th Doha Asian Games due a wrist injury on Wednesday.

The defending champion, who beat South Korea's Lee Hyung Taik in the final at the Busan Games four years ago, lost his singles match in the semifinals of the men's team event at the Khalifa Tennis Courts to Go Soeda of Japan on Wednesday.

"I have decided to pull out of the men's singles at the Asian Games, because the Australian Open is more important for me," said the 53rd-ranked Srichaphan. "I must concentrate on the injured tendons in my wrist.

"I can't push myself too hard because of my wrist. I was not in fine shape and fail to play my best tennis at the team event."

He won the first set 7-6 in 49 minutes but could not hold on before losing the following two sets at 6-0 and 6-4.

[Brinyi]

Feuding Indian duo to play together
Thu Dec 7, 2006 6:05 PM GMT

By N.Ananthanarayanan

DOHA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The stormy relationship between India's Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will not stop the multiple grand slam winners playing together in the Asian Games men's tennis doubles.

"Of course they are playing together, 100 percent," coach Nandan Bal told Reuters on Thursday.

The 2002 Pusan Games gold medallists have eight doubles grand slam titles between them, but split on the tour a few years ago due to personal differences.

They appeared set for another ugly break up in the Qatari capital after their shock first round defeat to Taiwan in the team event two days ago.

Paes, the team captain, said Bhupathi's fitness was poor after he failed to hold serve once in the straight sets loss.

Indian newspapers reported that Indian tennis officials had to intervene to keep them together in their search for elusive gold medals.

India were expected to win both the men's team and doubles titles due to the presence of the experienced duo.

Indian media also said Paes had initially insisted Bhupathi should take a fitness test.

National selector Akhtar Ali slammed the infighting and criticized coach Bal for openly siding with Paes.

"People are laughing," he told Reuters. "It is not good for the image of Indian tennis.

"An open spat like this while representing one's country is not nice."

In the build-up to the games, Bhupathi initially pulled out after the nation's top woman player Sania Mirza was paired with Paes for the mixed doubles. He was eventually persuaded to come back into the fold.

India won one gold, a silver and two bronze medals at the 2002 Games in Pusan. (Additional reporting by Sanjay Rajan in Mumbai)

[freudo]

thanks for the updates Briny. That's so sad about the horseman

[Brinyi]

brinyi said:

Men's Team semis

JPN def. THA 2-1. Paradorn lost to Go Soeda in singles. and the Ratiwatanas lost the doubles.
KOR def. TPE 2-1. Lee!/Jun! def. Lu/Wang in the decider, 46 64 64.

Women's Team semis

TPE def. JPN 2-0 (Su-Wei def. Morigami 36 63 60; Chan YJ def. Nakamura 64 75)
IND def. UZB 2-0 (Shikhaaaaa def. Akgul the Giant 76 46 63; Mirza def. IrOOda 63 60)

Finals

JPN-KOR are tied 1-1, Ears def. Chung! 60 36 63; Lee! def. Go 63 76
IND-TPE coming up

Finals update:

KOR wins! Lee!/Jun! again do the job in doubles, 62 57 62 over Ears/Iwabuchi.

No news on the distaff final, might have been rained out?

[Brinyi]

I see that Morigami has also withdrawn from singles (I was a little worried because of the third set bagel she lost in the team final)

[janie]

So far I've read that Su-Wei beat Shikha, but Mirza also won. Don't know about the dubs.

[Brinyi]

4-2 Taipei in the first set as we speak. Su-Wei is having a good Games. So is Sania who is killing peple.

[janie]

Good old Su-Wei! I can't decide who to root for here.

[Brinyi]

Taipei wins! 7-6 6-1

[Brinyi]

Singles and doubles events have started. Mainly squash matches so little of interest.

Su-Wei's litle bro " Everybody Wang Cheng Tonight" participated in a three-set MD upset of the Chinese team of Wang/Li.

CHAN Wing Yau Venise HGK lost in 3 to KIM! Jin! Hee! KOR.

[janie]

Congrats to Su-Wei & Co! Too bad Shikha couldn't save the day. But reaching the final was pretty great for India. I'm glad to see Sania playing with some authority again.

[Brinyi]

WS R32
CHAN Yung Jan def. TEDJAKUSUMA Romana 62 62
GUMULYA Sandy INA def. CHAN Chin Wei TPE 36 61 62
TANASUGARN Tamarine (5) THA def. AMANMURADOVA Akgul UZB 64 64

XD R16
RATIWATANA Sanchai / VIRATPRASERT Suchanun def. BHUPATHI Mahesh / UBEROI Shikha 64 64 ;D

[Brinyi]

Tomorrow Leander/Sania also play a Thai squad, Tangphong/The Other Ratiwatana

[janie]

Bhupathi's a real mess!

That's a nice win for Gumulya. And Tammy HAD to beat Akgul.

[Brinyi]

R16 scores of note

WANG Yeu Tzuoo (4) TPE def. RASTOGI Karan IND 26 75 75 (close!)
ISTOMIN Denis (7) UZB def. QURESHI Aisam Ul Haq PAK 4 & 3
(

LI Na (1) CHN def. GUMULYA Sandy INA 61 63
ZHENG Jie (2) CHN def. Shikhaaaaaaaa 40 ret

PAES Leander / BHUPATHI Mahesh def. GHAREEB Mohammed / MOHAMMAD Ahmad KUW 1 & 1
TEDJAKUSUMA Romana / WIDJAJA Angie (6) INA def. SAIDKHODJAEVA Dilyara / KHABIBULINA Albina UZB 2 & 1

ZHENG Jie / YAN Zi def. GUMULYA Sandy / HARTONO TANANTA Lavinia 1 & 0
FUDA Ryoko / YONEMURA T. def. MIRZA Sania / UBEROI S. 63 76(6)

XD quarters
PAES Leander / MIRZA Sania def. RATIWATANA Sonchat / TANGPHONG Montinee 4 & 3

[freudo]

ze chinese women are trying to make up for their lousy team competitin

[janie]

Aisam

[janie]

women's SF:
(3)Sania Mirza def. (1)Na Li 6-2 6-2

[freudo]

janie said:

women's SF:
(3)Sania Mirza def. (1)Na Li 6-2 6-2

nice win for Sania!!! poor Li...she's is trouble. they'll probably strip her of her tattoo

[Brinyi]

Sania will play ZHENG Jie in the final

Men's final: LEE Hyung Taik (1) vs UDOMCHOKE Danai (3)

MD final: RATIWATANA Sanchai / RATIWATANA Sanchai vs PAES Leander / BHUPATHI Mahesh

WD final, The renegade province versus the motherland!: CHAN Yung Jan / CHUANG Chia Jung vs ZHENG Jie / YAN Zi

XD final: IWABUCHI Satoshi / MORIGAMI Akiko vs PAES Leander / MIRZA Sania

[janie]

Wow, the Thais are going berserk!

[janie]

Final:

Jie Zheng(CHN) def. Sania Mirza(IND) 6-4 1-6 6-1

[leelee]

Why aren't Russians allowed in this.

[Maeby Fünke]

They're mostly Europeans.

[leelee]

Russia is mostly in Asia.

Plus, I believe MARIA was born in an Asian part. Since she embraces her Asian roots, and such stuff.

[Maeby Fünke]

I would think most of the population is in Europe, but then if we let Turkey in the EU and Israel in Eurovision I suppose they have a case. But they probably don't really care.

[leelee]

But, I just want to ruin Yi Brin's and the 1000 Asian tennis fans' fun.

[janie]

That Jie Zheng! She's a wily one! Here's what she did to Sania:

"The sunshine in Doha was dazzling bright and I tried to capitalize on it. A couple of times, when I tossed the ball I pretended that I was affected by the sunshine and I tossed again and slowed down the pace. I think this really worked and made her very impatiant and impetuous."

[leelee]

Lolz. Cute.