Asian athletics now back to track fully with seniors championships are being just underway in Thailand’s Bangkok. Conjunction with 50th year celebration of AAA (Asian Athletics Association) in it’s headquarter – also settled in Thai capital – the championships held first time in four years after cancellation of 2021 edition in Hangzhou, China.
In the first day, Japanese team secured four out of six titles on opening day at the Asians and broke three of their 30-plus-year title droughts in one session.
Nozomi Tanaka, an outstanding distance all-rounder, have demolished all the rivals in 1500 metres women’s final. The diminutive Japanese raced against herself in the final and accelerated after passing modest opening lap to eventually reached to the finish line 4:06.75 – six seconds inside of championship record made by Miho Sugimori in 2005. Former World U20 champion and Olympic finalist Tanaka have secured first seniors Asian title with a huge gap over another Japanese Yume Goto and 35-year-old Sri Lankan Gayanthika Aberaythne who won third consecutive Asian Championships medal.
The 10,000 metres was the only individual male final in the opening day. It have been contested in very end of the programme to avoid from 32C heat effect. Japan’s Ren Tazawa finished the 25 lap race in 29:18.44 ahead of Kenyan-born Kazakh Shadrack Kimutai and brought Japan to 10K gold in 42 years.
Similarly, Marina Saito also ended another Japanese long awaiting period in women’s javelin throw. Recent Japanese Championship winner Saito outclassed China’s Olympic champion Liu Shiying by 16 centimetres to having Asian title, a historic first for Japan since 1975.
Japan yet to celebrate another win at women’s triple jump as Mariko Moritomo who broke national record in last month with 14.16m, have leapt to first-ever title for her country. Moritomo won the title in a dramatic contest which had high tention finale. Japanese jumper led the contest at the early stages with her 14.00m effort, then Chinese Zeng Rui stolen top spot in sixth and final attempt by only one centimetre. Meanwhile, Moritomo back to the runway for a final hurrah and to jumped 14.06 metres to restore her position to gold.
RELAY JOY
The host nation Thailand closed first day with a joy of relay gold. The crowd favorite Puripol Boonson, who shines at SEA Games last year, led his team to NR breaking title over China. The Thai quartet hit the clocks 38.55 – both National and Championships records – to retaining their title and having sixth Asian relay crown in history.
In the women’s side, strongest team China PR have reached to Asian gold in 43.35 with three very same members from Doha whose set championship record four years ago. Wei Yongli, an experienced member and recent 100m Chinese champion, secured fifth Asian gold medal (nine in total) in her successful career. Now, she replaced in former male sprinter Zheng Chen (five golds, one silver) to most decorated Chinese athlete in Asian Championships history.
Text by Sevket F. Erbay for Athletics Podium
