Fencing: Korea and China into fifth final

Korea and China's expertise in fencing was evident again as they both qualified for their fifth team final of the games - the women's foil.

The Chinese and the Koreans have contested every team final at the 15th Asian Games whether it is men's or women's.

There are three disciplines: epée, foil and sabre so that is six team finals overall. China lead Korea after two days and four events four golds to nil. Qualification for the men's team epée, the final fencing event at Doha 2006, happens later.

China did not have it all their own way in the semifinal success over Japan. China had Huang Jialing to thank for two crucial victories in bouts six and eight. Huang had lost her first match to Maki Kawanishi but she recovered to beat Chieko Sugawara and Yoko Makishita.

The Japanese had drawn level in the contest after five rounds at 12-12, but Huang's success over Sugawara gave them a three-point cushion with three fights left.

Another success in the penultimate fight gave the Chinese women a five point lead. Korean Sugawara was last up for her country and she was forced to go for broke losing 13-10 in a battle of wills with China's Su Wanwen as the Chinese came through to move into the last two with a 37-29 victory overall.

"I tried to stay calm. Our coach told us to remain calm and composed," said Huang, "We knew that their attack was not as good, so if we kept our distance, it would work. We went strictly according to our coach's instructions."

"We will have to fight very hard," she said when asked about the upcoming final with Korea, "We think that the Korean team is stronger than us."

Korea wiped the floor with Kazakhstan, beating them 45-12. The Kazakhs, try as they might. lost all nine bouts in a semifinal which failed to live up to expectations.

"I am not sure about Su Wanwen but I know all the other Chinese fighters and I am comfortable with them, said Korea's Seo Mi Jung, "I cannot predict, but we are aiming for a gold medal, we are in good form so I am expecting a good result. "

The female fencers of Korea will be hoping to stop the rot against China - the Koreans are the reigning foil team champions after pulling off a victory against China on home soil in Busan in 2002.

15th Asian Games, Doha 2006