Lao makes history with sprint title
Source: Agencies |
November 23, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S Lao Yi and Japan's Chisato Fukushima are the region's fastest man and woman after clinching the 100-meter titles at the Asian Games.
Lao finished in 10.24 seconds yesterday, narrowly edging Saudi Arabia's Yasir Baalghayth A Alnashri by 0.02 seconds to become the first Chinese to win the men's sprint title at the Games.
Oman's Barakat Al Harthi was third after clocking 10.28.
With Qatar's Samuel Francis not in the lineup after the Asian record holder was disqualified in the semifinals because of a false start, Lao emerged as the favorite. Francis set an Asian record of 9.99 seconds in 2007.
"I am very excited," a jubilant Lao said. "I did a lot of preparation before the Asian Games. I was hoping to break the national record, but could not manage it this time."
Lao did not take the lead at first but sprinted ahead in a late rally.
"I had my own rhythm," the 25-year-old said.
Lao said he was bothered by injury in the past two years but managed a personal best of 10.21 at the National Championships this year. "My next goal is to get good results at next year's world championships," said Lao. "I am quite confident of myself."
Fukushima, who crossed in 11.33 seconds, also won by a razor-thin margin, beating Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva by 0.01 seconds. Vietnam's Vu Thi Huong was third, posting a time of 11.43.
Earlier, former Olympic champion Liu Xiang raised a collective sigh of relief across China when he coasted to victory in his opening heat of the 110m hurdles to remain on track for his third straight Asian Games title.
Liu burst strongly from the blocks, quickly settling into his smooth technique to clear all 10 hurdles cleanly before easing up at the line for a time of 13.48 seconds, more than half a second off his personal best of 12.88.
He had earlier emerged from the tunnel to thunderous cheers from the home crowd at Guangzhou's Aoti Main Stadium and warmed up in a black T-shirt with the Chinese characters "Hidden Strength" written on it.
Waving his "No. 1" finger at the cameras and wagging his tongue, Liu appeared relaxed and soaked up the applause.
"I felt good today," said Liu. "The weather is good as well, not too cold."
Liu's was the fastest qualifying time ahead of Park Tae-kyong of South Korea and Saudi Arabia's Ahmed Khader Almuwallad.
Shi Dongpeng, Liu's long-time understudy and tipped by some to strip him of his Asian Games title, failed to fire in his heat but did enough to qualify for the final.
Liu has struggled to recapture his best since limping out of the Bird's Nest stadium at the 2008 Beijing Games, disappointing millions of home fans hoping to see him defend his Athens Olympic title.
World champion Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain struggled with a knee injury and failed to qualify for the 1,500 meters final after finishing 13th in the morning heats.
Kamel, who said he was forced by team officials to run despite complaining of an injured right knee, crossed ninth out of 10 runners in the second 1,500 heat in 3 minutes, 58.80 seconds - some 25 seconds off the Asian season best of 3:33.06 he set in August.
The 27-year-old Kamel clocked 3:35.93 to win gold at the world championships in Berlin last year.
"I told my team officials but they didn't listen to me. They pushed me to come here and that's why I'm here," Kamel said.
"I'm not upset about my failure, but about their pushing me to run.
"I know that I can't achieve anything," he said, adding that he is doubtful for the 800 on Thursday.
He won the bronze in the 800 at the world championships.
Lao finished in 10.24 seconds yesterday, narrowly edging Saudi Arabia's Yasir Baalghayth A Alnashri by 0.02 seconds to become the first Chinese to win the men's sprint title at the Games.
Oman's Barakat Al Harthi was third after clocking 10.28.
With Qatar's Samuel Francis not in the lineup after the Asian record holder was disqualified in the semifinals because of a false start, Lao emerged as the favorite. Francis set an Asian record of 9.99 seconds in 2007.
"I am very excited," a jubilant Lao said. "I did a lot of preparation before the Asian Games. I was hoping to break the national record, but could not manage it this time."
Lao did not take the lead at first but sprinted ahead in a late rally.
"I had my own rhythm," the 25-year-old said.
Lao said he was bothered by injury in the past two years but managed a personal best of 10.21 at the National Championships this year. "My next goal is to get good results at next year's world championships," said Lao. "I am quite confident of myself."
Fukushima, who crossed in 11.33 seconds, also won by a razor-thin margin, beating Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva by 0.01 seconds. Vietnam's Vu Thi Huong was third, posting a time of 11.43.
Earlier, former Olympic champion Liu Xiang raised a collective sigh of relief across China when he coasted to victory in his opening heat of the 110m hurdles to remain on track for his third straight Asian Games title.
Liu burst strongly from the blocks, quickly settling into his smooth technique to clear all 10 hurdles cleanly before easing up at the line for a time of 13.48 seconds, more than half a second off his personal best of 12.88.
He had earlier emerged from the tunnel to thunderous cheers from the home crowd at Guangzhou's Aoti Main Stadium and warmed up in a black T-shirt with the Chinese characters "Hidden Strength" written on it.
Waving his "No. 1" finger at the cameras and wagging his tongue, Liu appeared relaxed and soaked up the applause.
"I felt good today," said Liu. "The weather is good as well, not too cold."
Liu's was the fastest qualifying time ahead of Park Tae-kyong of South Korea and Saudi Arabia's Ahmed Khader Almuwallad.
Shi Dongpeng, Liu's long-time understudy and tipped by some to strip him of his Asian Games title, failed to fire in his heat but did enough to qualify for the final.
Liu has struggled to recapture his best since limping out of the Bird's Nest stadium at the 2008 Beijing Games, disappointing millions of home fans hoping to see him defend his Athens Olympic title.
World champion Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain struggled with a knee injury and failed to qualify for the 1,500 meters final after finishing 13th in the morning heats.
Kamel, who said he was forced by team officials to run despite complaining of an injured right knee, crossed ninth out of 10 runners in the second 1,500 heat in 3 minutes, 58.80 seconds - some 25 seconds off the Asian season best of 3:33.06 he set in August.
The 27-year-old Kamel clocked 3:35.93 to win gold at the world championships in Berlin last year.
"I told my team officials but they didn't listen to me. They pushed me to come here and that's why I'm here," Kamel said.
"I'm not upset about my failure, but about their pushing me to run.
"I know that I can't achieve anything," he said, adding that he is doubtful for the 800 on Thursday.
He won the bronze in the 800 at the world championships.
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