China surpasses 1998 gold total

War-torn Afghanistan won its first medal of the Asian Games in 20 years on Saturday as judging controversies plagued day 13.

Afghanistan, making a return to the international sporting fold at the Games, had taekwondo protagonist Roia Zamani - and the luck of the draw - to thank for earning a bronze.

Zamani, a 23-year-old English teacher from Kabul, was guaranteed the medal after being handed a bye into the semi-finals of the women's middleweight category without even having to fight.

Defeat to her Korean opponent in the last four could not deflect from the pride of earning Afghanistan's one and only medal of the Games.

"It is just a first step for women in Afghanistan. We have just started by coming to the Asian Games. They should follow us," she said.

She said the Afghans were not fully prepared because they started from scratch only one year ago after the Taliban's overthrow.

"But next time, I am sure we'll be more prepared. My next target is to continue taekwondo and one day to be the winner of the whole world," she said with a smile.

For the second day running, the taekwondo tournament -- like boxing -- was at the centre of a judging controversy, with Iranian team members accusing officials of favouring Korean fighters.

"It's not a fair play. Why do we have the same referee arrangements when we fight South Koreans?" shouted Iran head coach Gholam Hassan Zolghadri after Yossef Karami lost to Korea's Olympic champion Kim Kyong-Hun 7-6.

"Are all the gold medals for Korea?" he added.

The Iranians did not, however, lodge an official protest.

Today's boxing semi-finals meanwhile saw a disastrous day for Thailand, with star fighters Suban Pannon and Manon Boonjumnong being eliminated.

Thailand's Cuban coach Ismael Salas, who has been one of the most vocal critics of judging in the boxing tournament, had no complaints with the defeats however.

The same could not be said for 20-year-old Syrian heavyweight Naser Alshami, who exited bawling in his corner with a section of the gallery jeering and shouting at the judges.

In the women's athlet to Chinese 5,000 metres runner Sun Yingjie. Sun, a former member of the same club as controversial Chinese coach Ma Junren, served notice she will break the 5,000m world record next season after nudging the mark.

The 23-year-old with an unorthodox running style, she keeps both arms almost straight down, produced one of the outstanding track performances at the Games with a solo bid for the record.

Running just four days after winning the 10,000 metres final Sun stormed away after a slow first three laps, and at one stage opened up a near-100m lead as she went on to shatter the Games record by more than a minute.

In the tennis tournament, gold went as expected to Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in the men's singles. Srichaphan, who has beaten some of the world's best, gave Thailand the gold medal it sought.

While the Thais, with 10 golds in all, are in a contest with India for fifth in the medals race, China pushed its gold total above the 129 it won four years ago in Bangkok, winning four of the day's eight canoeing races.

China also gained golds through women's hammer thrower Gu Yuan and cross country cyclist Ma Yanping.

That lifted China's total to 139 gold medals. In all, 419 are at stake in these Games, which end Monday. The 1998 Games had 378 gold medals.

The Chinese advanced to the gold medal game in women's basketball with a 92-69 victory over Japan.

South Korea lifted its total to 77, and reclaimed its Asian Games men's hockey field hockey title from defending champion India with a 4-3 victory.

It also gained golds in women's team handball, the Chinese martial art of wushu and women's doubles tennis, where Kim Mi-ok and Choi Young-ja beat Indonesia's Wynne Adiati Prakusya and Angelique Widjaja 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-3.

Japan improved to 42, incurring no penalty faults en route to gold in the equestrian team show jumping.

Myanmar won its first gold of the Games, in wushu.