By Mark Baber
September 18- Palestine, Iraq, South and North Korea and Indonesia men’s teams have all won both their opening matches at the Asian Games guaranteeing places in the round of 16 (bar a miracle in Iraq’s case) and, organisers hope, ensuring better ticket sales.
Incheon, South Korea’s third largest city, built 17 new venues for the Games including a 62,000-seat stadium, but up until earlier this week only 18% of tickets for the competitions had been sold.
Interest has focused mainly on the participation of the North Korea teams, and on the field of play they have been impressive, with the men defeating China 3-0 and Pakistan 2-0 and the women, who are among the favourites to win their competition, beating Vietnam 5-0, much to the delight of their small band of enthusiastic supporters who have been given special permission to display the North Korean flag.
Only South Korea have booked a place in the final 16 in the women’s competition. For the Indian women, who only just made it to Incheon after their Federation expressed concerns they may damage the country’s prestige, a 15-0 victory in their first game against the Maldives was very welcome. Unfortunately, in their second they were defeated 10-0 by South Korea. Hearts will go out to the Maldives, who have conceded 25 goals in two matches, scored none and still have group leaders South Korea to face.
Off the field, a member of the Iranian delegation is being investigated on suspicion he sexually harassed a female volunteer on Monday.
Organisers will be hoping the South Korean teams continue to progress, despite a couple of injuries to key players on the men’s team. Across the border, North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, a keen Manchester United fan, will no doubtless be pleased with the progress of the North Korean youngsters after the World Cup disappointments.
