Japan Women — Chinese Taipei Women: 80:52, Asian Games Women

Japan women claimed a convincing 80-52 victory over Chinese Taipei at the Asian Games on Thursday, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches. The hosts moved clear at the top of Group A, while the visitors' third-place standing now looks precarious with two defeats already on the board.

By then, the gap had opened early and never closed. Japan controlled the pace from the opening tip, using their size and experience to dictate play without needing to force issues. Chinese Taipei struggled to find any rhythm against a side that had already proven itself against tougher opposition.

Looking at the form guide, Japan's dominance was no surprise. Their recent results read like a fixture list of mismatches — 86-29 against Thailand, 89-67 over the Philippines, and 88-23 with Kazakhstan all in the bag. That one defeat to Hungary was the exception, not the pattern.

Chinese Taipei's record tells a different story. Their solitary win came against Malaysia, while losses to South Korea and now Japan suggest they are second to everything they face. The 45-89 defeat to Japan back in June has been followed by another heavy loss, and the margin of defeat tells you everything.

Three wins from three games puts Japan firmly in control of their group. Chinese Taipei now face a must-win scenario if they want to keep their tournament hopes alive. One mistake ends it for teams sitting on the edge.