Asian Games: North Korea off to flying start

Football team shatters China 3-0, Vietnam down Iran 4-1

INCHEON: North Korea's footballers took China apart 3-0 on Monday as they made an immediate impression in what was their first action at the Asian Games in South Korea.

Goals from Sim Hyon-Jin, So Kyong-Jin and Ri Hyok-Chol made it an easy debut outing for North Korea's men, who are among more than 250 athletes who are crossing the sensitive border.

Fans waving the blue and white Korean Unification Flag, and others with the North Korean colours, stood and applauded what was a straightforward group win at Incheon Football Stadium.

Among other results, Vietnam swamped Iran 4-1 and Ferdinand Sinaga hit four as Indonesia ran riot in a 7-0 rout of tiny East Timor.

Football is the first competition underway at the Asian Games in Incheon, near Seoul, which will formally open with a gala ceremony on Friday.

India's weightlifters throw off doping spectre

India's weightlifters will be looking to build on their new-found clean status at the Asian Games in Incheon after bagging 12 medals at this summer's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Indian weightlifting, dogged by rampant doping scandals in the past, appeared to turn a new leaf at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow when no positive tests were reported and they emerged as the top nation in the event.

Back in 2006, Indian lifting hit a nadir when a 12-month ban was imposed on the national federation after four athletes tested positive within a year, forcing them to miss the Doha Asiad completely.

The haul in Glasgow was a reward for the years of effort spent cleaning up the sport in conjunction with the National Anti-Doping Agency, according to India's weightlifting chief.

"I am not surprised at all, we have worked very hard to remove doping from our sport," said Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI) President Biren Baisya.

"There is a strict process in place to monitor each lifter and the quality of their training and diet. They are taught which food supplements to take and which ones to avoid.”

Lee takes shot at badminton glory

Badminton's Lee Chong Wei has made a habit of falling just short in major tournaments but he now has a chance to settle a score with old foe Lin Dan at the Asian Games.

Top-ranked Lee's list of failures grew again last month when, despite the absence of the much-decorated Lin, he was shocked by Chen Long in the world championships final.

Now he will take aim at his first Asian Games title and, along the way, end a dismal run of reverses against his irrepressible Chinese rival.

"We are now into the final phase of our preparation,” said Badminton Association of Malaysia’s General Manager Kenny Goh. “He is training every day... he has recovered from his injury."