Only A Bronze To Show On Third Day Of Action

From Zuriati Zulmi INCHEON (South Korea), Sept 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia collected only a bronze medal on the third day of the Incheon Asian Games while China continued to pull away from the rest of the chasing pack. The bronze medal came from the men's badminton team after losing their semifinal encounter to defending champion China. Though Malaysia failed to make an impact in the men's team event, Lee Chong Wei and Co, will have a chance to make amends in the individual event. Unlike badminton, squash players, especially the women, created their own history by turning the women's singles final into an all-Malaysian affair when Nicol David and Low Wee Wern marched into the final. Nicol, the world number one and world champion, disposed India's Dipika Rebecca Pallikal 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 in straight sets while Wee Wern emulated her idol's feat by beating Annie Au from Hong Kong 11-9, 11-5, 11-5. Ong Beng Hee was however, not lucky enough to make the final when he lost to India's Saurav Ghosal 9-11, 4-11, 5-11 in the semifinals. Cyclists Azizuhasni Awang who made it to the men's individual Sprint event quarterfinal and keirin silver medallist Fatehah Mustapa (women's individual sprint), kept the country's medal hopes alive. Malaysian athletes will continue their hunt for medals tomorrow in shooting, bowling, archery, wushu, gymnastics, beach volleyball and swimming. The men's squash team will also see action on Tuesday against China in a first round match. China lead the medal tally with 26 gold, 14 silver, 18 bronze, followed by South Korea with 14 gold, 9 silver, 11 bronze and Japan are third with 13 gold, 13 silver, 16 bronze medals. Malaysia, chasing a target of eight gold medals, are in 11th spot with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. --BERNAMA