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The following is issued on behalf of the 2009 East Asian Games (HK) Ltd:
There was a little bit of joy and a little bit of shock today (December 3), the second day of play in the Fifth East Asian Games under way in Hong Kong.
Joy was the surprising result of the day's only football match between Hong Kong and Korea. Hong Kong won 4-1, perhaps in response to the loud home crowd cheers.
Twenty-three matches filled a busy day's programme - ranging from games played on tables with different tops, well-polished indoor courts and the grassy surface of a soccer pitch.
Cue sport - both 15-red snooker for men and the women's nine-ball pool singles - made its debut at the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre in ten matches.
The biggest upset of the day was the resounding 4-1 defeat of Hong Kong's Marco Fu by China's Yu Delu in the first quarter final snooker match. Hong Kong's other player, Fung Kwok-wai did no better. He too suffered at the hands of a China player, losing 4-0.
Of the four basketball games that were played inside the Western Park Sports Centre, the closest finish of the day was the women's preliminary duel between Japan and China. It was 59-54 in Japan's favour.
In the evening men's encounter China showed a touch of class when they beat Mongolia 111-77. In other games, Chinese Taipei men's team trounced the Macau side 84-46; and Chinese Taipei's women gave a 112-47 lesson to Hong Kong in their preliminary clash.
The Hong Kong women's table tennis team (Group B) was in full control when they took all three points against the girls from Korea. Later in day, they stepped out again to defeat a Chinese Taipei side 3-0.
Last night the Group A men's slipped up but the Group B men did better today. They took on the Chinese Taipei side and ended with a 3-1 score.
The Japanese men in Group A met their match as the China engine churned to a 3-0 tally. Other scores were: Women's Group A Japan 3, Macau 0; Men's Group A Japan 3, Macau 0.
There were only two volleyball clashes today. The Korea-Macau Group B men's preliminary was in Korea's favour. Final Score: 3-0. Then it was the turn of China's Group A men's team to perform a Guam whitewash.
Out in the windy pitch of Siu Sai Wan, the Hong Kong XI faced Korea, already one of the four Asian spot qualifiers in June's World Cup final, and showed true grit to win 4-1.
Ends/Thursday, December 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 23:52
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