NEWS: Asian Games: China beats Japan to retain women's field hockey title

◆ Asian Games: China beats Japan to retain women's field hockey title
DOHA, Dec. 13 KYODO
China successfully defended its Asian Games women's field hockey title Wednesday, beating Japan 1-0 on a second-half goal by Ren Ye.
Ren scored off China's second penalty corner of the match six minutes after the break, and Japan failed to convert a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the match at the Al-Rayyan hockey field.
The Japanese women, who had finished top of the preliminary group and secured a place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, missed out on winning the country's first Asian Games gold medal in women's hockey.
''We wanted to create more chances,'' Japan captain Akemi Kato said after the game, which saw China dominate for long periods giving Japan only a few scoring opportunities.
''The Chinese played very aggressively from the start of the game and they took advantage of our basic mistakes,'' she said.
Still, the result matched Japan's runner-up performances in Seoul in 1986 and in Hiroshima in 1994. It won bronze four years ago in Busan, where China ended South Korea's run of four successive Asian Games titles.
Kaori Chiba became the top scorer of the tournament with 12 goals, including four on Monday in the 9-0 drubbing of Hong Kong that helped Japan earn a ticket to the Beijing Olympics by securing a place in the final. Japan beat China 3-0 in the preliminary round.
''It's a shame that I couldn't score a goal,'' Chiba said. ''China came out strong and controlled the midfield.''
India edged South Korea 1-0 in the bronze medal match.