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.
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.