GUANGZHOU, China – China’s hard-earned 77-71 win over South Korea in the gold medal match of the 16th Asian Games men’s basketball competition made it the first country to win it twice as a host.
The first time a host country won the gold medal was in 1954 when the Philippines topped the event in Manila. South Korea also was the host in 2002 and won the gold against China in Busan.
The Chinese first accomplished the feat in 1990 in Beijing after beating the Philippines in the finals.
China’s men's team has also been in the gold medal match for a record 10 straight times. China won the gold medal seven times in the last nine editions of the Asiad.
South Korea holds the record for the most consecutive medals of any color at 12. The Koreans never missed the medal round since 1962.
China has now seven gold medals in the Asian Games, followed by the Philippines with four. South Korea has three.
The Philippines won the first four editions of the Asiad in 1951, 1954, 1958 and 1962. It is also the only Asian country to win a medal in the Olympics or World Championships (bronze in 1954 Worlds).
China was the first host to win the gold medal in women’s basketball. The women’s side also beat South Korea in the finals.
Previous to that, no other host country was able to win the gold, although four of the last six hosts bagged the silver.
In the Guangzhou Asian Games, three teams made their debut – Turkmenistan in the men’s division, and India and Maldives in the women’s side. – KY/JVP, GMANews.TV
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