South Korea wins Asia´s first Olympic baseball gold medal

Source: Xinhua | 08-23-2008 22:31

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea beat defending champion Cuba 3-2 here Saturday to win Asia's first Olympic baseball gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Lee Yongkyu (R) of South Korea competes during the Baseball gold  medal game against Cuba at the Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing,  China, Aug. 23, 2008. South Korea beat Cuba and won the gold.  (Xinhua Photo)

Lee Yong-kyu opened the winning team's lead with a two run homer in the first inning and teammate Park Jim-man added one point in the seventh inning.

Cuba's Michel Enriquez and Alexei Bell homered respectively in the first and seventh innings.

The bronze medal went to the United States.

Asia's first Olympic baseball gold medal could be last one for this sport as baseball will not be included in the 2012 London Games. Whether it can enter the Games afterwards remains unclear.

Editor:Chen Ge