Jakarta Aug 22 (IANS) China failed to snatch its sixth consecutive gold medal in women s badminton team event after losing to top-seeded Japan 1-3 in the 18th Asian Games final here on Wednesday.
Top singles player Chen Yufei propelled China to a leading position through her 21-15 21-12 victory over Yamaguchi Akane reports Xinhua news agency.
Yufei took charge from the start with her high-quality smashes to build a 4-0 lead and from an 11-all draw at the changeover she pulled away the game. The proceedings became easier for Chen in the second game as she stood firm to earn China a morale-boosting opening victory.
In response Japan s Fukushima Yuki and Hirota Sayaka marched past Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 21-12 21-17.
The second singles match had greater importance. He Bingjiao of China lost 16-21 21-19 15-21 to Japanese Okuhara Nozomi. Bingjiao survived an injury scare in defending a stroke during the second game. She returned to court after a medical check and went on to savour the victory of 21-19.
In their debut at the tournament Huang Dongping and Zheng Yu lost to Olympic champions Matsutomo Misaki and Takahashi Ayaka 21-16 21-11 as Japan clinched the final 3-1.
Hosts Indonesia and Thailand bagged the bronze medals.

--IANS pur/sed