IN BRIEF (Page 22)

Athletics

China tops medal count at Asian Athletics Champs

AMMAN: The 17th Asian Athletics Championships ended Sunday at the Jordanian capital of Amman with China ranking first at the medal standings both in terms of gold medals and total number of medals.

Chinese athletes grabbed seven golds, five silvers and four bronzes during the five-day event, while Gulf country Qatar equaled China with a total of 16 medals, including four golds.

India wrapped up five golds, five silvers and five bronzes. Saudi Arabia was another major winner of the Asian championships, winning five golds, while Japan grabbed four golds, five slivers and four bronzes.

Because of the unrest in Lebanon where the event was originally scheduled to be held, the Asian championship was transferred to Jordan.

Golf

Chinese Zhang sinks third JLPGA victory

China women's golfer Zhang Na won on the Japan LPGA tour for the second straight week after a final-round 71 gave her a one-shot win at the AXA Ladies on Sunday.

Zhang fought off late charges from Mayumi Shimomura to finish on 7- under 209 at the South Course of Tomakomai Golf Resort 72 Emina Golf Club, adding to her victories at the Suntory Ladies Open seven weeks ago and Kracie Philanthropy LPGA Players Championship last week.

Zhang, who started playing in Japan as a rookie this year, is now placed third in the tour's prize money rankings and 50th in the world rankings.

Her coach, Wei Jingsheng, believes Zhang will win 30 titles in three years and qualify for grand slam competitions next year.

Badminton

Bank on the badminton squad for Beijing

China's badminton team won financial support from Bank of China, the Beijing Olympic's exclusive banking partner, last week.

Under the agreement, Bank of China will offer financial support to the team, which includes several household star players in China, such as Lin Dan, Xie Xingfang and Zhang Ning, and the athletes will be image ambassadors for the Bank of China in return.

"The support from Bank of China will encourage the team and the team will try to gain more gold medals at next year's Olympic Games," Liu Fengyan, head of China's badminton administrative center, said.

(China Daily 07/31/2007 page22)