The first gold of Beijing Olympic badminton tournament was bagged by No. 2 seeds Du Jing and Yu Yang, who secured the fourth title in women's doubles in a row for China at Olympics.

The Chinese duo upset Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung from South Korea 21-15, 21-13 here on Friday.

The up-and-coming pair of China, who beat their compatriots Wei Yili and Zhang Jiewen in the semi-final, shouldered the huge responsibility to safeguard the glory of Chinese women's doubles squad after defending champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen lost to a Japanese pair in a quarter-final.

Du and Yu didn't let down the enthusiastic spectators in the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, and consistently exhibited their powerful attacks which penetrated the defence of the South Koreans time and time again.

As Lee Hyo-jung smashed the shuttlecock out of the side line, Du Jing and Yu Yang yelled at the victory, and afterwards, kissed the gold medals on the medals podium.

In the bronze medal final, No.3 seeds Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen beat Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna from Japan 21-17, 21-10.

"Although it is only a bronze, but in my mind, it is a gold for myself," said Wei Yili, who lost the bronze medal final at Athens Olympics with her then partner Zhao Tingting.

Since the world No.1 Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen has announced their retirement after the defeat, and Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen also expressed their desire of bowing out of the spotlight, Du and Yu found that they are going to shoulder much larger responsibilities after the Olympics, as they will lead the reigning Chinese women's doubles squad.

"We still need to improve ourselves. The gold won't be an end to our career, but a new start," said 24-year-old Du.

In the men's singles semi-finals, Malaysian hopeful Lee Chong Wei beat Lee Hyun-il from South Korea 21-18, 13-21, 21-13, while top seed Lin Dan from China won a Chinese derby against Chen Jin 21-12, 21-18 to make the much-anticipated Lin-Lee encounter a reality.

"I think Lee Chong Wei is in very good form, so I hope to do my best in the final," said Lin.

Lee Chong Wei, ranked No.2, said the chance to beat Lin Dan stood at 50-50 and he would pay more attention to his own defence in the fight against Lin.

Lin's girl friend and teammate Xie Xingfang, the world No. 1 women's singles player, has also checked into the final at the Beijing Olympics, beating her compatriot Lu Lan, seeded No.3, 7-21, 21-10, 21-12.

Defending champion Zhang Ning secured the women's singles gold for China in advance by crushing Indonesian dark horse Maria Kristin Yulianti 21-15, 21-15.

In men's doubles, No.2 seeds Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng made a historical record for China by advancing into the final after downing Lee Jae-jin and Hwang Ji-man from South Korea 22-20, 21-8.

In the previous four Olympic Games, China only got a bronze medal in men's doubles, which was pocketed by Li Yongbo and Tian Binyi at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Cai and Fu will meet top seeds Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia in the final, who dashed the only hope of Denmark Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen 21-19, 21-17.

Source:Xinhua