Tags:
Journalism of Courage
BANGKOK, DEC 18: Yoon Yong-Il who will lead the Korean challenge against India in the Davis Cup clash in Seoul early next year, capped a great Asian Games when he beat southpaw Satoshi Iwabuchi of Japan 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 in the men8217;s singles tennis final here on Friday. Yoon, who had lost the singles final to Pan Bing of China four years ago, was taking his second gold medal of the Games after leading Korea to the team gold last week.
Earlier on Thursday, Yoon had lost in the men8217;s doubles final. But this morning despite a tiring fortnight, Yoon rallied from a first-set loss against Iwabachi and won in four sets. The Japanese had lost in two sets to the fifth-seeded Yoon in the team final. Iwabuchi who in the semi-finals had outplayed Prahlad Srinath of India by slowing down the game, changed his tactics for Yoon, who plays like he himself does by slicing and lobbing a lot.
Mahesh Bhupathi and Prahlad Srinath of India shared the bronze. India8217;s overall takings from tennis was four bronze medals. Bhupathi picked up three, through team, mixed doubles with Nirupama Vaidyanathan and men8217;s singles, while Srinath picked up one in men8217;s singles.
On Thursday Iwabachi won the mixed doubles gold medal with Nana Miyagi as his partner. Li Fang, the second highest ranked player in the Games, finally won a gold medal when she partnered Chen Li in womens doubles to beat Cho Yoon-Jeong and Park Sung-Hee of South Korea 6-2 7-6 7-2. Rika Hiraki and Nana Miyagi of Japan and Li Li and Jing-Qian Yi of China shared the bronze.
