Asian Games Roundup : China Wins Record 80 Golds; 4 Iranian Weightlifters Defect

China boosted its gold medal harvest to a record-breaking 80 Thursday, and South Korea continued to lead Japan in the battle for second place with three days left in the 27-nation Asian Games.

China broke the Asian Games’ record of 77 set by Japan in 1966. The Chinese also have 69 silvers and 39 bronzes. South Korea has won 63 golds, 48 silvers and 63 bronzes. Japan has 52 golds, 61 silvers and 60 bronzes.

Chinese tennis star Li Xinyi enabled China to break the record of 77. She beat South Korea’s Lee Jung-soon, 6-3, 6-3, for the women’s singles title. Yoo Jin-Sun of South Korea won the men’s singles by beating his fellow doubles gold medalist Kim Bong-soo, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Four Iranian weightlifters who competed in the Asian Games this week have been granted refuge by the Iraq Consulate in Seoul, South Korea, a spokesman for the Moujahedeen of Iran said.

Spokesman Shahin Gobadi said the athletes want to join the Moujahedeen, an organization of Iranians committed to the overthrow of the Ayatollah Khomeini.

The four athletes, one of them an Asian Games bronze medalist, were reported missing Thursday morning after Iranian athletes arrived at Kimpo Airport for the return trip to Tehran.