Bahrain’s gold medal machine, Winfred Yavi, left no room for anyone else at the top on the opening day of the athletics program at the Asian Games. The 27-year-old Bahrain athlete, who was born in Kenya, won the 10,000 metres ahead of Japan’s great hope, Nozomi Tanaka, claiming the fifth Asian Games title of her career.
Yavi made her move on the final lap, pulling away from Japan's Tanaka and Indian runner Seema, who had stayed with her until the closing stages. Former Olympic champion crossed the finish line in 32:39.18. Having previously won titles in the 1,500m, 5,000m and steeplechase at the Games, Yavi further cemented her place in history with her fifth Asian Games victory.
Bahrain secured its second gold of the day just 20 minutes later. The mixed 4x400m relay team, featuring former world champion and Asian record holder in the 400m Salwa Eid Naser on the anchor leg, lowered the Games record they had set in 2023 to 3:12.87. The quartet of Musa Isah, Aisha Abdullah, Alaa Sami and Naser finished one and a half seconds ahead of India, which entered the final 200 metres in second place. Vietnam won the bronze medal in a national-record time of 3:14.54.
In the women’s triple jump, Sharifa Davronova won gold, receiving her medal from legendary Kazakh athlete Olga Rypakova, a three-time Asian Games champion herself in the event. Davronova triumphed with a jump of 14.35m, finishing ahead of two Chinese athletes.
China also produced a one-two finish in the men’s discus throw. Abuduaini Tuergong, winner of the last two Asian Athletics Championships, took the title with a throw of 64.26m, while compatriot Wu Nanjun finished second with 61.58m. Iran’s Sadegh Samimi continued his country’s tradition of reaching the podium in the event, following five consecutive gold medals won by Iran.
