S Korea knocks Taiwan off perch

Third baseman Chang Chia-hao (張家浩) stepped up to the plate but was struck out giving shortstop Chen Jui-cheng (陳瑞振) his chance for glory. He rifled the ball straight back to the pitcher who dived for the stop and beat Chen to first base.

With two outs and no innings left, Taiwan's hopes rested on the broad shoulders of Chen Chih-yuan. Strike two came down and the crowd was starting to celebrate. With the next ball, a drive to the right was easily intercepted and Taiwan bowed out No. 2 in Asia.

South Korea went on a victory lap of the outfield to celebrate its gold before the awards ceremony, at which Japan was given the bronze medal after beating China in the third-place playoff.

The baseball silver medal was the second of the day for Taiwan after a brave -- but ultimately unsuccessful -- attempt from Chuang Chih-yuan (莊智淵) to wrestle table tennis gold from China's mighty ping pong stable.

The Kaohsiung native had cause for optimism of taking the greatest prize after whitewashing China's Kong Linghui 4-0 in the semifinal, showing quickness and aggression.

But the world's best player, Wang Liqin, avenged the drubbing by reversing the scores and pounced on every error, scoring winners seemingly at will to give the 21-year-old a 4-0 lesson in total table tennis.

It was the second time this year Wang had beaten Chuang, who said he regretted losing out once again to the same player.

In tennis, meanwhile, Lu Yen-hsun (盧彥勳) won his singles and is on course to take on Thailand's tour de force Paradorn Srichaphan.

Janet Lee (李慧芝) and Chuang Chia-jung (莊佳容) won their first round doubles match and then Lee repeated the feat in the mixed doubles quarter final with Lu to beat China two sets to one.