Asian Games: South Korea beat China for badminton gold, but hosts gain shooting world record

HANGZHOU, China: South Korea crushed China's dreams in the women's team badminton final to take gold, but elsewhere on Sunday (Oct 1) at the Asian Games in Hangzhou the hosts fared better, including setting a new world record on the way to gold in the women's team trap shooting.

The women's team badminton final, which featured some of the top ranked players in the world, was hotly anticipated in China where the sport is hugely popular.

First out was South Korea's world number one An Se-young, 21, against China's world number three and Tokyo Olympics singles champion Chen Yufei, 25.

But Chen was no match for An who won 2-0 (21-12, 21-13), before An's teammates followed suit in the doubles and the other singles match, also with 2-0 wins, for South Korea to wrap up the tie 3-0.

"I think maybe Chen was nervous," An said after the match."It's the result of analysing my opponent and training hard, but it was not an easy match to win."

At the shooting range the Chinese women's trap team of Li Qingnian, 42, Wu Cuicui, 35, and Zhang Xinqiu, 29, set a new world record of 357 points on their way to winning gold, eclipsing the previous world best of 354 points set by the United States in 2018.

In trap competitors wield shotguns and aim at clay-based targets being fired rapidly away from the shooter at different angles.

The silver medal went to India, whose team included Rajeshwari Kumari, 31, daughter of acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia and former Asian Games champion in shooting, Randhir Singh.

"I am very happy that she won, and I am very proud that she's won the medal for India," said Singh. "For me, (the emotion) is doubled because I'm the president and she wins the silver medal.

"The same thing happened in 1982 when my