Heading in the right direction

GUANGZHOU - The coach of the Japanese women's soccer team said brains beat brawn as his side won the gold medal against defending champion, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), at Tianhe Stadium on Monday.

Sawa Homare of Japan (right) and Jon Myong-jwa of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fight for the ball in the final of the women's soccer competition on Monday. [Photo/China Daily]?

Japan's Iwashimizu Azusa's header in the 74th minute ended the DPRK's hopes of winning a third consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games.

"China and the DPRK players are physically stronger. That's why we had to play with very careful tactics on the field," coach Sasaki Norio said after the 1-0 triumph.

"Besides China, the DPRK and Korea, we will also face physically stronger teams from Europe and the United States in the future," he said.

"Having that in mind, we need to intensify our preparations for the Olympic qualifiers and the World Cup."

Aya Miyama, Japan's captain, also said a strong mental approach helped her side to victory.

"Four years ago, we lost to the DPRK in the Asian Games final. Now we are here, we are four years older, and we have better mentality. Luck is also involved," Miyama said.

Meanwhile, the DPRK's head coach, Kim Kwang-min, put his team's loss down to a lack of fitness.

"The final match (of a tournament) is usually the most difficult. The main reason we lost this match was that we lacked energy," Kim said.

"Most of our players are young and they didn't have enough experience to deal with such an important game and they were not in the best physical form," Kim said.

"They have never gone through a match like this. However, I think losing this match is a good experience for the players."

According to the coach, the DPRK's leader, Kim Jong-il, was disappointed after being informed of the result.

"The leader of the DPRK loves all women's sports. He takes good care of my players and looks at my players as if they are his daughters. I'm sorry that he couldn't see their great efforts rewarded," Kim said.

Before the Guangzhou Asian Games, Japan had finished with a medal at every women's soccer tournament at the Asiad, but never gold.

In reply to a question about the difference between China, Japan, the DPRK and Korea, the semifinalists at these games, Sasaki said little separated the sides.

"Each of the four teams had the potential to win the gold at this tournament they clearly are Asia's best," he said.

Sasaki also said there was plenty of room for his team to improve leading into qualifying matches for the London Olympic Games in 2012 and next year's Women's World Cup in Germany.