The much-awaited regional Olympics for the biggest continent of the world are due to kick off. Before the star-studded Hangzhou 2022 action starts, we should remember some brightest moments in the past.
Here are several moments from the rich Asian Games history in random order while we acknowledge that there are many other achievements that were respectfully placed in the past. Here are the top picks from Athleticspodium.
2010: Liu Xiang’s three-peat
China’s charismatic sprint star Liu Xiang brought some grace in Guangzhou 2010 Games. Liu, the 2004 Olympic gold medallist, secured his third consecutive Asian Games gold in 110m hurdles while extending China’s streak in the event to seven and became the first man in history to claim three golds in high hurdling. In the final, Liu confidently took off from the blocks in lane 7 (very well 0.122 reax in a noisy stadium) and clearly got the lead after the third hurdle. The 28-year-old Chinese has cleared the remaining barriers artistically by gaining several inches after every single action. Liu Xiang’s winning mark was corrected as 13.09 which means he shaved off 0.06 from his previous games record.
1998: Koji Ito’s sprint sweep
Japanese sprinter Koji Ito became only the third man to accomplish sprint treble in 100m, 200m and relay at the Asian Games after two greats Mani Jegathesan (1966) and Anat Ratanapol (1974). More importantly, Koji Ito garnished the treble with one Asian and three Games records. Right after his enormous 100m Asian record in semis (10.00), he cleared well over Thailand’s Seeharwong in the final by clocking 10.05, then he claimed the 200m title with a 0.45 seconds gap to break yet another Games record. Koji concluded his account in Bangkok by getting his third title in the sprint relay. Ito ran the anchor leg in 4x100 metres final and the Japanese team clocked a 38.91 Games record to prevent the Thai hopes of gold at the event.
1986: Lydia Vega’s superb defence
Philippines’ finest Lydia de Vega passed away last year at the age of 57, but she still lives in the memories vividly. De Vega was amongst the best Asian sprinters in the 80s and turned into a national heroine after her triumph at the 1986 Games. She matched up against Indian legend PT Usha in 100 metres for years and they faced off in consecutive Asian Games finals both in 1982 and 1986. De Vega clocked 11.53 in the 1986 final to beat the Indian star once more and became the first female sprinter (and only one to date) to retain the 100m title. However, just three days later, PT Usha avenged in the 200 metres final to prevent De Vega from making a sensational sprint double in a very tight finish.
1986: Quadruple for PT Usha
Most decorated Asian Games athlete in history, PT Usha known as Payyoli Express, might have lost the 100 metres title to great rival Lydia De Vega, but she absolutely became the enormous star of Seoul 1986 by virtue of a “five-in-one” performance in track. She grabbed four gold medals in seven days - all the titles decorated with Games records. Despite missing the fifth gold to Lydia de Vega, PT Usha’s achievement (4 golds and a silver) remains to be the best-ever individual tally in a single edition so far.
1986: Shinobu’s fifth in a row
Japanese throwing giant Shinobu Murofushi went down in history during Seoul 1986 Asian Games. The 41-year-old entered his sixth contest at the Games and secured fifth gold in the final where he was challenged by two young Chinese throwers while beating them easily even though he didn’t reach the 70-metre mark. He left a legacy which is impossible to erase from the annals with five consecutive titles in a 16-year span.
1978: Mighty Thai team
Thailand’s rule in speed events dates back to their famous men’s team in the 1970s. During the decade-long rule, the Thai 4x100 quartet have secured three Asian Games and four South Asian Games titles. In Asian Games, they beat Japan and China to clinch three titles – a feat only achieved by China, later. The team, led by Anat Ratanapol, a future major general in the army, amassed six golds at the Games, an achievement still unmatched by any other in athletics.
1966: The storming doctor
Often referred to as The Flying Doctor due to his profession, Manikavasagam Jegathesan of Malaysia was the pure icon for the region. During the 1962 Games, Mani Jegathesan brought the first ever Asian Games athletics gold to the country as a teenager, but his massive fame came out four years later. In Bangkok 1966, Jegathesan had taken the 100m title in 10.49 with clocking the first sub-10.5 in Asian territory to beat arch-rival Kunalan of Singapore by only 0.01 second. Jegathesan also clinched the 200m crown against India’s Ajmer Singh in a close-call finish and additionally anchored his team to 4x100 glory ahead of Indonesia.
2018: Best out of the best
The Qatari sprinters Abderrahman Samba and Abdalelah Haroun were amongst the best in the world during the 2018 season in their respective one-lap events. World leading mark owner Samba clocked 47.66 to secure the 400m hurdles while his team-mate Haroun grabbed the 400m dash title by dipping under 45 seconds. Both athletes were at the very peak of their form when they arrived in Jakarta for the Games. With the addition of two former Asian U20 champions, Mohamed El Nour and Nassir Abbas, the Qatari team broke the Asian record in the 4x400 metres final by clocking 3:00.56 ahead of India and Japan. Abdalelah Haroun, who was killed in a car crash in 2021, anchored the final lap in 44.44 to a commanding lead.
2010: Rypakova’s golden leap
Asian triple jump record holder Olga Rypakova was the clear favourite to win both jumping events when she landed in the Guangzhou 2010 Games. She lost the title in the long jump final by just two centimetres before being dominantly crowned in the triple jump. Started with a foul, she leapt to 14.64, 14.78 and 14.35 in the following tries before passing her attempts in the last two rounds. Still, she won the title by a 60-centimetre gap over Chinese rival Xie Limei, who owned the previous Games record. The Kazakh star would be adding two more triple jump titles to her tally in the upcoming editions as her 14.78 from Guangzhou is still on the list as an event record.
2002: Susanthika’s sprint flash
Asian Black Mare Susanthika Jayasinghe did not have any Asian Games titles until 2002 despite being considered one of the greatest ever from the continent. Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Sri Lankan Olympic medallist enjoyed Asian Championships sprint double in front of home crowd before arriving the 2002 Games in Busan. Remembering disqualification in the 100m final four years ago, the Sri Lankan focused extensively for the win. In the heats, Jayasinghe clocked an 11.16 Games record as already far distanced from the field, then she replicated her superb performance in the final. There was 11.15 on the time-keeper, which means another Games record and a precious gold.
