DOHA: Buoyed by the brilliant and sensational success over India on Tuesday, China continued its winning sequence and reached the threshold of a maiden semifinal berth in the Asian Games hockey competition.

The best position it has achieved so far has been fifth at Beijing, 1990, and Busan, 2002.

China brushed aside Bangladesh in Pool B this rainy morning by 4-1.

Whatever the initial resistance that Bangladesh offered in the form of its goal-keeper Rasel Khan was outmanoeuvred by the systematic workouts. Admittedly, some of Rasel Khan's saves were breathtaking.

China's attack revolved round Li Song, Liu Xiantang and Hu Liang whose unison in fashioning the moves was admirable. Prompted well by Hu Heiren from the defence, the raids carried enough punch.

It is not that China relied only on power alone. A hint of elegance was ingrained in the goal that Hu Liang struck. Picking up the ball from near the 25-yard line, he dodged two defenders and flicked the ball to the roof of the net.

China enlarged the margin when Liu Xiantang netted before halftime. His effort was followed with a perfect penalty corner shot by Hu Huiren. When Yubo Na completed the tally, China was well ahead.

However in the final minute, 46 seconds before the hooter to be exact, the defence slackened a bit allowing Mazharul Islam to deflect the ball into the net off a cross from Khondokar Ahmad.

Late on Wednesday, the Indian women could manage only a 4-2 win over Malaysia. India led 3-1 at half-time.

The results: Men: Pool B: China 4 (Hu Liang, Liu Xiantang, Hu Huiren, Yubo Na) bt Bangladesh 1 (Khondokar Ahmad); Korea 10 (You Hio Sik, Jang Jong Hyun 4, Yoon Sung Hoon, Seo Jong Ho 2, Hong Sung Kweon, Lee Nam Yong) bt Oman 0.

Pool A: Malaysia 2 (Kuhen Shanmuganthan, Jiwa Mohan) bt Hong Kong 1 (Bal Harinder Singh); Japan 4 (Kazuo Yoshida, Mizawa Takayasu, Takahiko Yamabori 2) bt Chinese Taipei 0.

Wednesday's results: Women: India 4 (Asuntha Lakra, Binita Toppo, Saba Anjum, Mamta Kharb) bt Malaysia 2 (Kanngi Arumugam, Nadia).

China 1 (Ma Yibo) bt Korea 0.

Chinese Taipei 0 drew with Hong Kong 0.

Friday's matches: Women: Hong Kong v India (11-30 a.m.); Japan v China (1-30 p.m.); Malaysia v Chinese Taipei (4-30 p.m.). Men: Pool B: China v Korea (6-30 p.m.); India v Oman (8-30 p.m.).

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