China, winner of the Champions Trophy among the world's top six teams last month, underscored its status as the title favorite with goals from skipper Chen Zhaoxia and Fu Baorong in the second half.

The Chinese win ended South Korea's streak that ran from the 1986 games in Seoul to 1998 in Bangkok.

Ranked as Asia's topside during that period, South Korea went on to win an Olympic silver medal. It slumped in the rankings last year after several of its veteran national players retired.

Chen slammed in a penalty corner in the 38th minute, but Fu faltered in her 43rd-minute attempt to put a penalty flick into the goal. Japanese umpire Chieko Akiyama, however, awarded the goal by penalizing goalkeeper Park Yong-sook for shuffling her feet.

The goal was hotly debated by the South Korean players, who said Fu's fumble had caused the goalkeeper to move, but umpire Akiyama waved them away.

South Korean coach Kim Sang-ryul said the "penalty stroke goal killed the match."

China's coach Kim Chang-back, a South Korean from Busan, said the umpires were correct in awarding the goal. "There will always be some decisions that will debated," he said. "But I think the decision was correct."

Kim Chang-back said China's team was stronger and justified its top billing by beating South Korea twice in three days.

China had beaten South Korea 2-0 in its last round-robin match, after suffering a 1-2 defeat to Japan that threatened to deprive it of a finals berth.

Earlier, Japan took the bronze medal by beating Commonwealth Games winner India 2-0 in a playoff between the bottom two teams in the four-nation competition.

(eastday.com October 12, 2002)