Asian Games Roundup : South Koreans’ Strong Showing Prompts Dispute Over the Officiating

SEOUL, South Korea â€”  South Korea’s strong showing at the Asian Games Monday was tainted by complaints from embittered opponents over unfair officiating.

China’s world champion badminton team refused for 90 minutes to come out for the medal ceremony after being beaten, and the Pakistani field hockey coach disputed a disallowed goal in his world champion team’s surprising 2-1 loss to the South Koreans.

Controversy also surrounded the judges’ decisions in two boxing matches where South Korean fighters appeared to have been soundly beaten.

In less controversial competition, South Korean archers broke their third world record, and the Philippines won two golds in bowling to move into fourth place in the overall medal standings behind China, Japan and South Korea.

The Chinese badminton objection centered on a series of six faults charged to their No. 1 player, Wang Wang, at a time when he was leading South Korea’s Sung Han Kook, 13-6. Sung took advantage to win the game, 18-16, and he took the next game, 15-4, to capture the set.

“I just could not fight against the umpire,� the Chinese player said.

China’s Zhao Jianhua, ranked second in the world, also complained of not being provided adequate practice time in the week before his 15-7, 15-5 loss to Park Joo Bang.