INCHEON: North Korea’s footballers dismantled China 3-0 Monday as they got off to a rousing start at the Incheon Asian Games cheered on by fans waving the Korean Unification Flag.
Goals from Sim Hyon-Jin, So Kyong-Jin and Ri Hyok-Chol gave North Korea’s men an easy win as the large delegation from across the militarized border tasted its first competition.
North Korea is flying in more than 250 athletes for the Asian Games, at which the usually reclusive state will hope to excel for the sake of its sports-loving leader, Kim Jong-Un.
With football underway before Friday’s opening ceremony, the group game drew fans holding the blue-and-white Unification Flag as well as others with North Korea’s colors.
The North Koreans were frequently allowed to run at China and they went ahead in the 10th minute at Incheon Football Stadium when Sim arrowed a shot past goalkeeper Fang Jingqi.
So Hyon-Uk’s close-range shot deflected off Fang and on to the crossbar, and Sim ran into the box but fired over as North Korea enjoyed a commanding first half.
So Kyong-Jin doubled their advantage on 57 minutes when, receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he had time and space to pick his spot.
North Korea made it three when Ri was played in with a neat ball through the defense — and with Fang exposed, he gobbled up the chance.
North Korea’s visit is sensitive and organizers have removed all national flags from Incheon’s streets, fearful they may be a target for anti-Pyongyang protesters.
Later, Japan’s all-conquering “Nadeshiko” got off to a slow start in the women’s competition when they were held to a 0-0 by three-time winners China.
Coach Norio Sasaki displayed a face like thunder as Japan, whose women are the world, Asian and defending Asiad champions, couldn’t find a way past China’s “Steel Roses.” Among other results, Vietnam’s men swamped Iran 4-1, Ferdinand Sinaga hit four as Indonesia ran riot in a 7-0 rout of tiny East Timor, UAE routed Indian 5-0, Bangladesh edged past Afghanistan 1-0 and Uzbekistan held Hong Kong 1-1.
North Korea off to flying start in soccer
North Korea off to flying start in soccer
Alcaraz powers into Indian Wells quarter-finals
- Alcaraz will next face 2021 champion Cameron Norrie, who earlier beat Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-4 6-2
World number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominant run at Indian Wells, beating Norway’s Casper Ruud 6-1 7-6(2) on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals in the California desert.
The Spaniard relied on a near-flawless service game to seize control of the match, racing through the opening set in just 37 minutes after breaking Ruud’s serve three times.
Thirteenth-seeded Ruud raised his level in the second set and forced a tiebreak, hoping to push the match to a decider, but Alcaraz kept his foot on the gas to seal his 15th consecutive victory of the season to reach the quarter-finals for a fifth straight year.
“The conditions were difficult to be honest. Today the ball was tough to control but we both played great,” two-time champion Alcaraz said in his on-court interview.
“My first set was incredible I’m really happy of playing that kind of level, really happy to get through and hopefully I’ll play this level on the next round.”
Alcaraz will next face 2021 champion Cameron Norrie, who earlier beat Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-4 6-2, with the Spaniard looking to avenge a defeat to the Briton at last year’s Paris Masters.
SWIATEK, PEGULA THROUGH
World number two Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant 6-2 6-0 victory over Czech 13th seed Karolina Muchova, reeling off 10 consecutive games to secure her fifth win over the Czech, whom she also beat at the same stage of the tournament last year.
“I felt I was playing better and better, just great,” Swiatek said.
“I love playing here ... It’s a great place to play tennis, hopefully I can keep doing that until the end.”
Swiatek, chasing a third Indian Wells title, will face ninth seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals after the Ukrainian advanced when Katerina Siniakova retired injured.
American fifth seed Jessica Pegula overcame Belinda Bencic 6-3 7-6(5) to secure her first victory in five meetings between the pair.
Pegula, coming off a dramatic comeback win over Jelena Ostapenko, took control as she clinched the opening set — her first ever against the Swiss — before edging a tightly contested tiebreak to close out the match.
Russian 11th seed Daniil Medvedev beat Alex Michelsen 6-2 6-4 in a commanding performance, needing just one hour and 27 minutes to dismantle the American and maintain his strong form after winning last month’s Dubai Open.
