Qatar’s Femi Ogunode made a victorious return
from a doping ban Sunday as he smashed Asia’s
100 metres record and snatched Asian Games
gold with 9.93sec in wet conditions.
As China soared past 100 golds, Nigeria-born
Ogunode was all smiles after he lowered the
Asian mark by 0.06sec and finished nearly two-
tenths ahead of China’s Su Bingtian.
Ogunode
Hopes of the first sub-10sec run by an Asian-
born athlete were doused as Su timed 10.10,
Japan’s Kei Takase clocked 10.15 and Zhang
Peimeng was fourth in 10.18.
Ogunode returned in January from a two-year ban
for using clenbuterol and he said he was hungry
for more success in next year’s world
championships and the 2016 Olympics.
“I had a feeling that I would break the Asian
record and I promise I’ll win more gold medals
here,” said Ogunode, who is also running the
200m and the 4x100m relay.
“Look out for me in the world championships in
China in 2015 and the Rio Olympic Games in
2016.”
Ogunode’s time puts him among the top 50
fastest men of all time but still some distance
from Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58.
Teenage steeplechaser Ruth Jebet finally got her
gold after being disqualified on Saturday as she
prepared to step onto the podium — and then
being reinstated on appeal.
The Kenya-born 17-year-old, who switched to
Bahraini nationality last year, said she had high-
level support from her new country’s king during
the bizarre turn of events.
Jebet was first disqualified for stepping off the
track, a decision which was announced to the
crowd during her victory ceremony as she was
standing behind the podium.
But after late-night protests and wrangling by
Bahraini officials, she was awarded the win after
all and finally received her medal in a delayed
ceremony on Sunday.
“After the problem I had yesterday with the line I
was so worried,” she said. “But my king promised
me that we would get back my medal.”
- Target 199 -
China romped past 100 golds to 105 as they
raised the prospect of breaking their record of 199
wins achieved four years ago on home soil in
Guangzhou.
China clinched five athletics titles, including the
men’s and women’s 20km race walk, women’s
100m, women’s hammer and men’s pole vault.
They also tasted success in archery and
wrestling, while Wang Yihan beat team-mate and
rival Li Xuerui to women’s badminton gold.
In the men’s badminton, all eyes were on Lin Dan
against Lee Chong Wei and Chinese great Lin did
not disappoint in a 22-20, 12-21, 21-9 defeat of
his closest challenger.
For Lee, it was an all too predictable end to his
last Asian Games and added to his list of losses
to Lin including the 2010 Asiad final.
“He looked really confident in the third set and I
could not follow him any more,” said the
Malaysian world number one.
“I have done my best and I accept defeat. Now I’ll
go back (home) and have a rest before the next
tournament.”
But China did not have it all their own way and
the seven-time winners were sent crashing out of
the men’s basketball, ending a run of nine
consecutive finals.
“They will become better players for this
experience,” head coach Gong Luming said of his
players.
Captain Jang Hyun-Soo struck a late penalty as
hosts South Korea overcame fierce rivals Japan
1-0 to reach the men’s football semi-finals in
front of 43,000 raucous fans.
And South Korea also celebrated the men’s
baseball title as they beat Taiwan 6-3. With six
days to go, the hosts are second on the medals
table with 42 golds, 63 behind China
DIAMONDNET CO. ©2014
No comments:
Post a Comment