The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar - Asian Games gold medallist Ashraf Amjad El Seify and star sprinter Femi Ogunode stormed into the finals as Bahrain took over China in the gold medals race on the penultimate day of 23rd Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, yesterday.
El Seify raised Qatar’s hope of another gold medal in men’s hammer throw with his season’s best show, clearing a distance of 74.92 to top the qualifying. El Sify Ahmed also qualified for the final with a throw of 65.5.
In men’s 200m semi-final at Khalifa International Stadium yesterday, Ogunode clocked an impressive 20.63 to cruise into the final. However, there was an injury scare for the Qatari sprinter, who was seen struggling with a hamstring injury soon after his semi-final.
The Asian 100m record holder was uncertain about his participation in the final.
“It didn’t go well. My left hamstring hurts. I am not sure I will be able to compete in the final,” Ogunode said.
However, an official close to Qatar Athletics Federation hoped the sprinter will feature in today’s final.
Qatari high jumper Mahmat Hamdi will also be in action today.
Meanwhile, promising middle-distance runner Khamis Saifeldin also kept Qatar’s medal hopes in men’s 1,500m alive after clearing the qualifying with a time of 3:49.24.
Qatar have so far claimed two gold medals and a bronze medal in the 4-day event.
Battle for gold medals heats up
Also yesterday, Bahrain collected three more gold medals to leave giants China behind in the race to top standings. The Chinese have secured 21 medals including 6 gold, 9 silver and 6 bronze medals while Bahrain, have won a total of 14 medals including 7 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze medals.
Yesterday, Asian Games gold medallist Li Ling gave China their first gold medal, winning the women’s pole vault final after clearing the height of 4.61.
“That’s my third Asian Championships title but besides winning I also wanted to break the Games’ record. Sadly I made some technical mistakes which I must avoid in next competitions,” said Li Ling.
The silver medal of the event also went to China, with Xu Huiqin leaping to 4.36. UY Natalierose (4.20) of Philippines took bronze medal.
The quartet of Xiaojing L,Yongli W, Lingwei K and Manqi G won the women’s 4x100 relay final for China with a time of 42.87. Kazakhstan finished second while Bahrain took bronze.
In men’s 4x100 relay final, Zhiqiang W, Zhenye , Jinsheng L and Hengnan J combined to win but they were later disqualified for lane infringement. That gave Thailand a gold medal.
Second gold for Winfred
Bahrain’s Yavi Winfred, in the meantime, grabbed her second gold medal of the championships by topping the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final. The star long-distance runner clocked 9:46.18 to prevail over China’s Xu Shuangshuang (9:51.76) and compatriot Tigest Mekonen (9:53.96).
“I wanted to win both 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase events in Doha. It wasn’t easy, but in the end my mission is accomplished. I am so excited,” Winfred said after sealing her second gold.
Bahrain grabbed their second gold medal of the day after winning the popular 4x100 mixed relay, ahead of India and Japan.
The third gold medal of the day for the GCC country was brought by Shitaye Habtegebrel, who clocked 31.15.62 to win the women’s 10,000m, the last event of the day.
Elsewhere, Uzbekistan’s Vornina Ekaterina sealed the women’s heptathlon crown after accumulating a world leading 6198 points. India’s Swapna Barman (5993) and Wang Quingling (5829) of China got silver and bronze medals respectively.
“I was well prepared not only to win but also break the national record (6212 points), I was close but didn’t make it,” said Ekaterina.
“I believe the turning point was javelin throw, it was the event after which I felt I would win,” she added.
It was an interesting clash in men’s decathlon, which concluded with the 15,00m race. Japan’s Keisuke Ushiro managed to bag a gold medal for his country despite finishing 4th in the 1,500m, courtesy to his heavy points tally in other events.
“I am sure I can do better in the next events. For the World Championships here in Doha, I set the bar at 8500 points,” said Ushiro.
The Japanese star accumulated 7872 points, finishing ahead of Kuwait’s Majed Alzaid (7838) and compatriot Akhiko Nakamura (7837).
Thailand’s Parinya Chuaimaroeng bagged the women’s triple jump gold with season’s best of 13.72 followed by China’s Zeng Rui (13.65) and Sri Lanka’s Vidusha Lakshani (13.53).
Uzbekistan’s Nadezhda Dusanova (UZB) clinched gold medal in women’s high jump with a leap of 1.90.