Paris Olympics bronze medallist Song Jiayuan leads China’s Charge
By our correspondent
Tianjin (China): Hosts China dominated the proceedings on the opening day of the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships here on Friday, with a rich haul of three gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
Leading the hosts’ charge at the Tuanbo Sports Centre Athletic Arena in Tianjin, the largest coastal city in northern China, were the women’s shot putters led by Paris Olympics bronze medallist Song Jiayuan. China swept the podium in the women’s shot put and men’s triple jump. Song was a cut above the rest as she threw the iron ball to 18.36 metres on Friday. Her compatriot Jiang Yue finished a distant second with a best of 17.11 metres, followed by Sun Yue, who picked up the bronze with a heave of 15.95 metres.
Su Wen led China’s charge in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 16.55m. In a small field that also included India’s Praveen Chitravel, who has a personal best of 17.37m, Jiao Xinping took the silver with a best effort of 16.47m, followed by Ma Yinling (16.45m).
Deng — the fastest athlete
China’s Deng Xinrui emerged as the fastest athlete of the meet, winning the men’s 60m dash in 6.59 seconds. Chinese Taipei’s Chen Wen Pu, returning after a long injury lay-off, bagged the silver medal in 6.60s. In the process, Pu also set a new national record. Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Mohammad Dawood (6.62) snatched the bronze ahead of Kiryu Yoshihide of Japan. The Japanese star, who was tipped as a strong contender to challenge Deng, settled for fourth place in 6.63s.
Men’s high jump winner Seko Yuto and middle-distance runner Tanaka Nozomi put the brakes on the Chinese charge as Japan picked up two gold medals on the opening day. Yuto cleared 2.23m to bag the gold ahead of compatriot Shinno Tomohiro (2.19m). India’s Adarsh Ram lost on countback to settle for the bronze medal.
The women’s 1500m saw a strong battle between Tanaka and Li Chunhui of China. In the end, Tanaka denied a fourth gold for China, winning in 4:19.15s. Li clocked 4:19.54s. 2022 world champion Kazakhstan’s Tanui Norah Jeruto, a Kenyan who switched to Kazakh nationality, took the bronze in 4:20.04s.
Kazakhstan was the third country to bag gold on the opening day. That was won by Alina Chistyakova in the women’s pentathlon with a tally of 4181 points. China’s Xu Jiahuan (4091 points) took silver, while Wu Zheng bagged China’s third bronze and 10th medal with a total of 4013 points.
Results (Finals)
Men:
60m: 1. Deng Xinrui (China, 6.59 seconds), 2. Chen Wen Pu (Chinese Taipei, 6.60s), 3. Abdullah Mohammad Dawood M (Saudi Arabia, 6.62)
High jump: 1. Seko Yuto (Japan, 2.23 metres), 2. Shinno Tomohiro (Japan, 2.19m), 3. Adarsh Ram (India, 2.19m)
Triple jump: 1. Su Wen (China, 16.55m), 2. Jiao Xinping (China, 16.47m), 3. Ma Yinling (China, 16.45m)
Women:
1500m: 1. Tanaka Nozomi (Japan, 4:19.15 seconds), 2. Li Chunhui (China, 4:19.54), 3. Tanui Norah Jeruto (Kazakhstan, 4:20.04)
Shot put: 1. Song Jiayuan (China, 18.36m), 2. Jiang Yue (China, 17.11m), 3. Sun Yue (China, 15.95m)
Pentathlon: 1. Alina Chistyakova (Kazakhstan, 4181 points), 2. Xu Jiahuan (China, 4091), 3. Wu Zheng (China, 4013)
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