3-Cushion
INCHEON - The 45-Japanese Ryuji Umeda, who achieved the greatest success in his career in 2007, when he won the three cushion world title, is close to a second gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea. In a few hours (16.00, Asian time) Umeda plays the final against Quoc Nguyen Nguyen from Vietnam.
It is the climax of a tournament, in which the elimination of the Koreans Kyung-Roul Kim and Jae Ho Cho came as a big surprise. Two Japanese players, Ryuji Umeda and O Takeshima and two Vietnamese, Quoc Nguyen Nguyen and Xuan Cuong Ma, played the semifinals this afternoon.
The best of these four was Umeda, who defeated Ma 40-32 in 28 innings (1.428/1.142, Umeda run of eight and six for Ma).
Quoc Nguyen Nguyen and O Takeshima played a very moderate match, won by the Vietnamese 40-33 in 37 innings (1.081/0.891).
Ryuji Umeda seems to be the big favorite for gold with his great experience. At the Asian Games, he achieved his first success in 2006, when he won the final against Vietnamese Anh Vu Duong. In 1998, Umeda lost the final against his fellow countryman Akio Shimada.
The world title, which he took in Cuenca in 2007, was a sensational highlight. In the main event the Japanese first beat Luis Aveiga from Ecuador (3-1) and the Mexican Rodolfo Covarrubias (3-2).
Dick Jaspers was defeated in the semifinals (3-1) and in the match for gold was Dani Sánchez his opponent. It turned out into a battle of life and death: Sánchez took a lead in sets two times, Umeda came back to 2-2 and was the best in the final set 15-12.
The final of the Asian Games is at 16.00 Asian time this afternoon and will be broadcast live by Kozoom.