By Şevket F. ERBAY
Asian junior athletes have competed for the biggest prize of the continent after five-years hiatus due Covid-19 outbreak. Japan ruled 19th edition of the event just like they did recent editions as rivals China have passed 300 gold medal barrier since 1986, though.
During the four-day event, two championships record have broken by Qatari fellas. 19-year-old Ismail Dawood Abakar, who went Korea with freshly taken West Asian 400H title in Doha, showed his great capability in both one lap races. Dawood competed 400m flat and hurdles simultaneously and taking both with stunning performances. The wiry young gun clocked 46.18 personal best in 400 metres final as recording "second" best mark in the championships since 2001.
PRECIOUS DOUBLE
After pocketing a gold in flat, he turned his eyes to main event 400m hurdles in the very next day. Although he has been landed Korea as clear favorite with his 49.18 PB which registered in Doha Diamond League B race one month before of the championships, he tried hard again in the final to lowering mark under 49 and a half. He did it so 49.30 in the final as shattered previous record by 1.13 second to brought first title to Qatar in such event since Mubarak Al-Nubi back in 1996. Dawood Abakar now standing fifth place in all-time Asian U20 list, is looking bright future on his sight.
Qatar has numerous athletes in their 400H pantheon such as Mubarak Al-Nubi, Bassem Hemeida and of course Abderrahman Samba, a world medallist. Now, they’re taking one step further with the young guy who clearly opens debate for being greatest amongst all of them.
VAULTING A RECORD
Aside by Ismail Dawood, another Qatari athlete Seifeldin Abdelselam Hemeida (younger brother Egypt’s in-form female sprinter Bassant Hemeida) crashed Asian U20 event record in Yecheon. He cleared 5.50m at the second attempt in pole vault final, became just third junior achieved that height in Asian territory, also renewed his own senior national best mark.
Japanese team have collected 23 medals – fewest in last five editions but having 14 titles let them to stay on top. They’ve swept golds in men’s distance events (couple of women’s titles as well) and having eye-catching improvement on that territory. Japanese 4x100 team came first in men’s race by distance, 39.76 to 40.32 from Korea, but they could not managed to win any other relay medal.
China’s Heng Shu wins men’s long jump with a high-caliber 8.03m effort as parted from nearest rival by 54 centimetres, although he just missed championship record by two centimetres, which belong to his compatriot Weng Jongfeng since 2008. Additionally, another Chinese athlete stood in the podium in third as the country now has 20 out of 57 medals distributed in men’s long jump.
SRI LANKAN JOY
Tharushi Dissanayake of Sri Lanka emerged as a prominent talent by grabbing three medals in four days. Dissanayake has lost 400 metres battle to India’s 2007-born talent Rezoana Mallick Heena despite racing a good one to 53.71, but wins 800 metres final in 2:05.64, nearly four seconds out of her best. Nearly two hours later, she had semi-revenge over India’s Mallick where both contesting in anchor leg in inaugural mixed relay race at the championship. Rezoana Mallick was in the lead when final changed were made but she tripped with Korean Hyunjin Sin in the curve and tumbled. Sri Lankan escaped the incident and commanding the lead in penultimate lap to victory.
Mixed relay race left Rezoana Mallick tearfully though, but she compensated it on the final day to anchor 4x400 women’s victory for India. Mallick led India 3:40.50 in 4x400 metres to secured her second gold in the closing stage. India’s bright talent now has six Asian-level podium within just two months, collected triple in U18 and U20 continental meets.
