Yu Yang (front) and Du Jing of China play against Lee Hyojung and Lee Kyungwon of South Korea in the women's doubles badminton final in Beijing on Friday, August 15, 2008. Yu and Du defeated the South Korean pair 21-15, 21-13, to win the gold. [Photo: Xinhuanet]

No. 2 seeds Du Jing and Yu Yang defended the glory of Chinese women's double shuttlers who secured the gold in previous three Olympics by defeating Lee Kyung-won and Lee Hyo-jung from South Korea 21-15, 21-13 in Beijing on Friday.

The up-and-coming pair of China, who beat their compatriots Wei Yili and Zhang Jiewen in the semi-final, shouldered the huge responsibility after defending champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen lost to a Japanese pair in a quarter-final.

Du and Yu didn't let down the enthusiastic spectators in the Beijing University of Technology Gymnasium, and consistently exhibited their powerful attacks in the first game, which was interrupted by a requirement of emergent medical care from Lee Kyung-won, apparently injured in her left ankle.

In the second game, the Koreans led the score till 11-11, after which the Chinese pair staged a 10-2 run and sealed the game at 21-13.

The bronze medal went to Chinese Wei Yili/Zhang Yawen.