"VAN" (Asian Games Sports Desk - Hangzhou, China - 26.09.2023) :: China claimed the Taekwondo Mixed Team gold medal at Hangzhou Asian Games here on Monday.
Following the Individual Poomsae events on the inaugural day, the Mixed Team competitions brought even more excitement to the Taekwondo court on the second competition day.
Seven teams participated in the event, each consisting of two male and two female athletes with a combined weight limit of 135kg for females and 160kg for males. After the initial set, coaches could substitute players after 20 seconds of play in the second and third sets.
China's team, comprised of Song Zhaoxiang, Cui Yang, Song Jie, and Zhou Zeqi, easily defeated Vietnam 88-18 in the semifinals.
In the final, Republic of Korea's Seo Geonwoo, Kim Jandi, Lee Dabin, and Park Woohyeok gained an early advantage in the initial set. However, China turned the game around in the second set with a score of 60-57 and secured the gold medal with a burst of forceful kicks in the last 10 seconds, finishing with a final score of 84-77.
"Our team members played exceptionally well, and we received tremendous support from the coaching staff and the audience. It's fantastic that we were able to win," said Zhou after the game.
Guo Qing, the runner-up at the world championships, reached the Women's 49kg final, but the 23-year-old Chinese athlete was defeated by Thailand's Panipak Wongpattanakit, who leads the Olympic qualification points rankings.
In the Men's 58kg event, Republic of Korea's Jang Jun secured gold by beating Mahdi Hajimousaeinafouti from Iran, while Cheng Kai earned another bronze medal for China.
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