2018 Asian Games: China's Liu Wenbo wins silver in women's golf
Updated 15:49, 30-Aug-2018
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We turn to golf at the Asian Games as China collected two medals in the competition. Liu Wenbo won silver on the women's side while Jin Cheng captured bronze for the men which could mean good things for the future of the sport in China. Mike Fox has more.
Golf is only for amateurs at the Asian Games and China sent a strong squad to Jakarta who harboured hopes of winning the country's first gold in the sport. In the men's team event, Lin Juexin, Zhang Huachuang, Yuan Yechun, and Jin Cheng finished as four of the top five golfers at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. But after four rounds, it is the 2015 Asia-Pacific Amateur title-holder Jin, who comes out with the best result for the team.
Jin, also the first amateur to lead a PGA Tour China event in 2014, tees off in the final group with first placed Naka-jima Keita and Seung-taek Oh who is tied second place after the third round. As Keita maintains his lead till the end, Oh comes second thanks to six birdies, followed by the 20-year-old, Jin, in third.
Jin's bronze isn't without disappointments as he said himself, but it is also the first men's individual event medal that China has gained in the Asian Games since Zhang Lianwei's silver in 1994. China also claimed silver in men's team event, the first medal ever won by the country in this category in the history of the Asian Games.
In the women's team, 2017 CLPGA Shuangshan Challenge champion Liu Wenbo keeps her lead by three shots until the very last hole. The amateur world number 28 takes 9 shots on the 18th, while her opponent Yuka Saso competing for the Philippines, has an eagle putt to finish 13-under to claim gold.
LIU WENBO WOMEN'S SILVER MEDALIST "I feel very bad because of the last hole. The four extra shots are gone so quickly, I had a three-shot lead, and I just wanted to finish quickly, that's not a right mindset. And then I made some huge mistakes."
It might be a huge pity at the Asian Games, but it will eventually benefit Liu's road to becoming a professional golfer, much like her idol and friend, former world no.1 Feng Shanshan, who only finished 6th in 2006 Doha Asian Games, when she was just 17.
LIU WENBO WOMEN'S SILVER MEDALIST "She will share her experience in golfing with us, as well as the lessons she learned."
Thinking about competing in the Olympics might be a bit too early for these young talents, with Jin going to America to study tomorrow. Liu, on the other hand, has just decided to turn professional this year.
LIU WENBO WOMEN'S SILVER MEDALIST "I would love to compete for my country. Today I will be flying to Ireland for the World Amateur Team Championships, after that, I will go professional."
The golf event at the Asian Games has now ended, and it might still be a long while until any of them appear at the Olympics, but it's clear that golf has gained more attention in China, with youngsters continuing to show their talent. Mike Fox, CGTN.