China wins three golds in Asiad athletics
The second day of the 2010 Asian Games athletics competition belonged to China. The hosts bagged three of the six gold medals at stake on Monday to surge to the top of the medal standings in the event.
Lao Yi topped the men's 100m final to become the first Chinese athlete to win an Asian Games gold in the event. He crossed the finish line in 10.24 seconds, beating Saudi Arabian Yasir Baalghayth A Alnashri by just 0.2.
Oman's Barakat Al Harthi claimed the bronze in 10.28. Lao's victory came as a surprise as Qatar's Samuel Francis was the favourite to win the event. But the Nigeria-born Asian record holder was disqualified in the semi-finals due to a false start.
"Before 2010, I had been suffering injuries for a long time. This year, I trained very hard and ran 10.21 seconds in the National Games and it gave me great confidence," a relieved Lao told AP.
Zhang Wenxiu defended her women's hammer throw title. The Beijing Olympics bronze medallist made a best throw of 72.84m.
Wang Zheng made it a one-two finish for China with a throw of 68.17m, while Japan's Yuka Murofushi placed third with a 62.94m effort.
Yang Yansheng won the men's pole vault after clearing 5.50m. Leonid Andreev of Uzbekistan and Kim Yoo-suk of South Korea shared the silver medals after both clearing 5.30m.
Sharing the spotlight with the Chinese were Kazakhstan and Qatar.
Olqa Tereshkova defended her women's 400m title. The Kazakh clocked a season-best 51.97 to finish ahead of Japan's Asami Chiba (52.68) and team-mate Marina Maslyonko (52.70).
The men's 400m final was won by Qatar's Femi Seun Ogunode. The Nigeria-born runner posted a personal best of 45.12 to take the title.
Japanese Yuzo Kanemaru settled for the silver in 45.32 while Yousef Masrahi Ahmed M of Kazakhstan took bronze in 45.71.
Japan's Chisato Fukushima ruled the women's 100m in 11.33. Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva finished second in 11.34 while Vietnam's Vu Thi Huong came in third in 11.43.
The highlight of the day was the men's 110m hurdles heats featuring 2004 Olympic champion and local hero Liu Xiang.
The 27-year-old topped his heat and set the fastest time of 13.48.
"I expect to run in 13.20 (in the final). I'll try my best," said Liu, who is still popular among local fans despite being slowed down by injuries in recent years.
In other events, Uzbekistan's Yuliya Tarasova is the leader in the heptathlon after four events while world 1,500m champion Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain failed to qualify for the final after running with a knee injury.
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