THE DAY IN BEIJING

Surprise! Fight judging comes under criticism

It wouldn’t be the Olympics if there wasn’t controversy over the boxing judging.

Russia bantamweight world champion Sergey Vodopyanov and Raynell Williams, a serious American medal contender, lost Friday, both saying they were wronged by subjective calls.

Vodopyanov was edged by India’s Akhil Kumar on total punches in a fight that ended 9-all, and Williams fell behind early and never caught up to France’s Khedafi Djelkhir.

China’s team has six boxers still in the tournament amid complaints about judges favoring the home nation.

Five hours before Williams’ fight, Terry Smith, head delegate of the International Amateur Boxing Association, tried to dispel growing complaints that the judging has deteriorated into a farce.

Particularly in the case of China, which has almost no recent boxing history and yet whose fighters have won 11 of 15 fights — many under dubious circumstances.

“I can’t definitively say the judges are favoring the Chinese,” Smith said. “But it would take three (out of the five judges working each match) to favor China, and I haven’t seen anything to support that.”

SOFTBALL

Booming bats power U.S. to pair of victories

The U.S. women set an Olympic record with four homers in a 7-0 victory over Japan. Then they resumed a rain-suspended game against Canada, trailing 1-0. After being five outs from losing, they wound up winning by the lopsided score of 8-1.

The Americans broke the game open with four runs in the sixth, helped by two errors by Canadian shortstop Jennifer Salling and a wild pitch and hit batter by Dione Meier of Canada, which beat China 1-0 earlier in the day.

TENNIS

Blake ousted by Gonzalez; Nadal reaches final

An American won’t win the men’s singles title. James Blake, the last hope left, lost to Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, who blew four match points before winning, 6-4, 5-7, 11-9.

Gonzalez, seeded 12th, will play in Sunday’s final against Rafael Nadal, who beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to clinch his first Olympic medal.

New women’s No. 1 Jelena Jankovic lost in the quarterfinals to No. 6 Dinara Safina, who will play China’s Li Na in the semifinals. The other semifinal will pit Russians Elena Dementieva and No. 9 Vera Zvonareva.

BASEBALL

Tiffee, U.S. erase four-run deficit to top Canada

51s slugger Terry Tiffee doubled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh, Brian Barden homered and tied the game with his seventh-inning double and the U.S. (2-2) rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Canada, 5-4.

Brian Duensing retired 10 of the final 11 batters for the win as the Americans turned a one-run result in their favor for a change. They lost their opener 8-7 to South Korea and then suffered a demoralizing 5-4, 11-inning defeat to Cuba on Friday.

Barden played in place of injured second baseman Jayson Nix, a day after Nix fouled a ball of his left eye and needed surgery that will keep him out the remainder of the Olympics.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Americans roll past Spain after sluggish start

The Americans started slowly, then got clicking, pounding Spain, 93-55. Tina Thompson scored nine of her 17 points during a game-breaking 20-5 run in the third quarter, and Lisa Leslie added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

With the win, the U.S. has 29 straight wins in Olympic play.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

U.S. team defeats China in front of president

With China’s president watching, the U.S. team coached by former Chinese star Jenny Lang Ping beat the hosts in five sets. The Americans are 3-2, in good shape to advance. China is 2-2.

In other games, Brazil, the top-ranked team in the world, defeated Kazakhstan, 3-0. The Brazilians are undefeated after four pool matches and are ensured a spot in the quarterfinals.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Kai’s goal propels U.S. over Canada, into semis

Natasha Kai scored on a header in extra time, sending the defending champion Americans into the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Canada. The game was suspended for one hour and 40 minutes during the first half because of lightning.

The U.S. plays Japan in the semifinals, and Brazil faces Germany.

CYCLING

Britain wins team sprint; Wiggins breaks record

The British beat France for the gold in the men’s team sprint, and Bradley Wiggins of England set an Olympic record in qualifying for the 4,000-meter individual pursuit.

American Taylor Phinney — the 18-year-old son of 1984 gold medalist Connie Carpenter-Phinney and ’84 bronze medalist Davis Phinney — advanced in the pursuit race.

REVIEW-JOURNAL WIRE SERVICES