Uzbekistan's Tulyaganova gets gold medal in Asian Games


Associated Press
October 11

Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan beat top-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1, 6-3 Friday for the gold medal in Asian Games women's tennis.

Thailand's gold hopes were kept alive on the men's side after top-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan advanced to the men's singles final, defeating Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-3 in a semifinal.

Paradorn's powerful baseline game and aces kept fourth-seed Ogorodov on the back foot throughout the match.

The world No. 28, Paradorn will meet South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik in the final Saturday. Lee, the second seed, defeated Takao Suzuki of Japan 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, in the first semifinal earlier Friday.

Tamarine looked sluggish at the start and lost her first service game. She came as close as 3-4 in the second set but couldn't overcome the more powerful returns and strong serves by Tulyaganova, seeded second and ranked No. 40 in the world.

The Uzbekistan player finished the match by hitting a forehand serve return down the line and charging in to put away a volley.

Tulyaganova, 20, gained attention earlier this year when she played with Martina Navratilova in doubles at the U.S. Open, where they lost in the third round. Tulyaganova was born the year Navratilova started a string of six straight championships at Wimbledon.

Tamarine, ranked 27th, also won silver at the last Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998.

Tulyaganova "served unbelievably. She deserved it," Tamarine said.

"Her ball pace was different today. Her strokes were more aggressive and harder. Really she was playing very well at the right time. And in first set I didn't really start well. I tried my best," the Thai added.

Bronze medals went to losing semifinals Shinobu Asagoe of Japan and Cho Yeon-jeong of South Korea.

In the semi-finals Iroda had beaten Cho Yoon-jeong of South Korea 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova, left, is congratulated by her fans after she won in the final match of the women's singles tennis competition at the 14th Asian Games in Busan, South Korea (news - web sites), Friday, Oct. 11, 2002. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

P.S.Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova and Oleg Ogorodov lost their mixed doubles to Indian Mahesh Bhupathi and Manisha Malhotra 4-6, 6-2, 3-6. Earlier Oleg Ogorodov lost his singles semi-finals to Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand in two sets - 3-6, 3-6.