The athletes whose succeeded in Hangzhou, claimed the biggest honour in continental athletics scene, the Asian Games which occured five-year span due to Covid-19 delay. In the final action day, two Asian Olympic gold medallist, Mutaz Essa Barshim and Neeraj Chopra were amongst the performers in the very full stadium.
Qatari superstar Mutaz Barshim, who finished third in World Championships last month, achieved his final target of the year. Barshim edged past South Korea's World Indoor champion Sanghyeok Woo by equalling his own Games record at 2.35m. Both athletes have cleared every single height in first attempt until 2.35, which measurement Woo failed. When Barshim cleared same height in first try to securing gold medal position solely ahead of South Korean. Woo tried his final two attempts in 2.37m - two centimetres up from his PB - but didn't capitalised it. Barshim also failed three times at same bar height, meanwhile able to clinch his third Asian Games gold and became first man to do so.
India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra able to retain his javelin title from five years ago but resisted unexpectedly good from his compatriot Kishore Kumar Jena. 28-year-old Kumar arrived the final with 84.77 PB but upgraded his mark to 87.54 after fourth throw to have lead. However Chopra went 88.88 metres, even far from his World Champs winning mark in August, for securing his title.
Bahrain completed the athletics competition in second best country behind China thanks to their African-born stars, especially Kemi Adekoya who leaves from Hangzhou with triple crown. Nigerian-born Adekoya added her tally with third one in 4x4 relay - helping to Bahraini quartet for breaking 3:27.65 Games record at the event. Adekoya now owns five Asian Games title and became seventh athlete to achieve that.
Sri Lankan rising star Tharushi Dissanayake grabbed another big title in two moths time. The 18-year-old talent started the year in Asian U20 title, then broke championships record in Asian Championships final in July. She completes continental hat-trick at the Games by defeated India's Harmila Bains with clocking 2:03.75. Dissanayake brought first athletics gold to Sri Lanka for 21 years.
