Women's basketball: Japan net bronze in dramatic style

A three-point basket from Yuka Watanabe, with just 59 seconds left in the game, broke a 70 point deadlock between the two teams to make the score 73-70.

A subsequent free throw from lively point guard Yuka Oga took the lead to four points with outstanding defensive play from the Japanese in the closing seconds locking in the bronze medal. The win was set up by some brilliant three-point shooting, Japan sinking 9-of-18 from long range. Oga was the standout player as she set up virtually every offensive play for Japan with ruthless efficiency. Her speed and passing ability made her a constant threat to the Koreans as she scored 15 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists.

Ryoko Utsumi was also outstanding for Japan and she finished the game with 24 points from an accurate 10-of-14 shooting total, which included two three-point baskets. Watanabe was another player who threatened from long range as she hit five from behind the three-point line to finish the game with 15 points.

For Korea, captain Kim Kwe Ryong was tireless in her efforts at both ends of the court and she finished the game with 21 points and six rebounds. Beon Yeon Ha helped keep Korea in the game in the latter stages and contributed 22 points, including four three-point baskets, and six rebounds.
The loss means Doha 2006 is the first Asian Games where Korea have not won a medal in the women's basketball tournament. Korea won the silver medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan and have won gold three times.

Japan's heroine Watanabe said of her crucial three-pointer, "I was thinking nothing. I was playing full scale. There was pressure on our team that Korea was close behind us. We stayed patient. Although Korea was close and turned the tables several times, we still managed to win the lead back."

Korea's coach Yoo Soo Jong said, "We lost the game even though we did our best. We just had no luck. I feel miserable [because] we performed so well, both the teams were so evenly balanced, both were equally strong. Our main goal was to win the gold and losing to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals really demotivated a lot of my players."

15th Asian Games, Doha 2006