Japan chase baseball and softball upsets

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Sydney: Japan go for one more Olympic upset and the Sydney Games softball title on Tuesday, while their baseball team also try for a surprise against Cuba to get a shot at the gold.

The softball team take a startling undefeated streak into the final against the defending champions, the United States, who came into the Olympics overwhelming favourites but had a 112-game winning streak snapped by Japan in the first round.

It was Japan's first win over the United States in 30 years. Japan also upset Australia and China in the first round and Australia again in the semi-finals to go into the gold medal game full of confidence.

Japan have won five golds so far in Sydney, two more than in Atlanta four years ago.

China, however, are easily the most successful Asian nation, with 21 golds in 10 days of competition. South Korea have four golds and Indonesia one, bringing the Asian total to 31 golds -- the same as in Atlanta. There are six days of competition left.

In addition to softball, Japan are also looking for the baseball gold, and can move into the final if they can upset double gold medallists Cuba in Tuesday's semi-final.

The United States play Asian champions South Korea, who struggled early in the tournament but have played well in their last several games, in the other semi-final.

Japan brought eight professionals to try to improve on their bronze in Barcelona and silver in Atlanta, where they were beaten 13-9 by Cuba.

Matsuzaka may start

Japan may start 20-year-old Daisuke Matsuzaka against Cuba. He had two no decisions after pitching 10 innings in a loss to the United States and nine in another loss to Korea in preliminary round games.

South Korea are led by centrefielder Jung Soo-Keun, who has stolen five bases, and third baseman Kim Dong-Joo, who is batting .375.

South Korea also have a medal shot in Greco-Roman wrestling, where Sim Kwon-Ho fights world champion Lazaro Rivas of Cuba in the final.

In boxing, South Korea's Kim Ki-Suk fights France's Brahim Asloum for a spot in the quarter-finals of the 48 kg boxing division. China are favoured in Tuesday night's three-metre springboard diving competition with Xiong Ni posting the highest score in the preliminary round.

Xiong, who led a Chinese one-two with Yu Zhuocheng at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, amassed 457.38 points from his six preliminary dives.

Xiong has a big lead over Mexico's Fernando Platas, in second with 444.60 points.

Another Chinese, Xiao Hailiang, the Atlanta highboard bronze medallist, was fifth with 419.91 points.

"I normally improve later on and I think I will do better in the semis and later in the finals," Xiao said.

Tuesday is a rest day in athletics, in which there has been just one Asian success to date -- gold in the women's marathon by Japan's Naoko Takahashi.



(c) Reuters Limited.