The 10th Asian Indoor Athletics Championship started in Astana today.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Asian Athletics Association Dahlan Al-Hamad, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, the President of the Athletics Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Danial Akhmetov and wished success to athletes from all 31 countries.
Alikhan Smailov was the first to read out the welcoming speech of the President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the participants of the Championship. “Dear athletes, dear guests and fans! A significant event for our country is the competition, in which more than 500 athletes from 31 countries of Asia take part. Sport knows no boundaries. It strengthens and brings together the friendship of states and peoples. Kazakhstan attaches special importance to the sports field. All conditions have been created in the country for citizens to engage in professional and mass sports. Much attention is paid to the development of infrastructure in this industry. The athletics complex, which can accommodate more than six thousand people, is a clear confirmation of this.”
In the first final of the evening session, the first medal got into the piggy bank of Kazakhstan. Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui finished first in the 3000 meters and became the champion. Her finish time was 9:01.98 seconds. Athlete from China Uga He won silver, and Japanese Yuma Yamamoto rounded out the top three.
And in the 60 meters run, Olga Safronova won a silver medal. She covered this distance in 7.32 seconds. Farzaneh Fasihi from Iran finished first with 7.28 seconds, while Indonesian Valentin Vaneza finished 3rd with 7.37 seconds.
In the men’s shot put, Tajenderpal Side Tour (India) took 1st place with a score of 19.49 meters, Karanvir Side (India) took 2nd place with a score of 19.37 meters. Zheng Xiaodong (China) summed up the leadership in this discipline with a score of 18.85 meters.
According to the results of the women’s pentathlon, Ekaterina Voronina from Uzbekistan took 1st place with a total of 862 points, an Indian athlete – 2nd place, and an athlete from Japan – Yuki Yamashaki – 3rd place, 846 points.
