Sun’s bid for 5 golds comes up short in relay, Ikee sizzles
JAKARTA: Chinese medal machine Sun Yang’s bid for a record-equalling five swimming titles at the Asian Games came to an abrupt end yesterday when, having picked up his second individual gold, he failed to anchor his country to victory in the relay.
Japan’s teenage sensation Rikako Ikee snared two individual titles to take her tally to three golds in the Jakarta pool and her male compatriots later contrived to deny Sun the chance to match her feat.
Sun had landed the 200m freestyle title on Sunday and was no less dominant in winning the 800m free in the first race of the evening but was just unable to overhaul Katsuhiro Matsumoto in the final leg of the 4x200m freestyle relay.
The multiple Olympic and world champion still has the chance for two more golds in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle races but can no longer match the three other swimmers who have won five golds at a single Asian Games.
Sun bided his time in the 800m but, having hit the front at halfway, eased away from his rivals and touched the wall some three metres clear of Japan’s Shogo Takeda in seven minutes, 48.36 seconds.
“I saved energy for the relay,” Sun said. “I could have got a faster time but it is my duty as team captain to do my best in the relay.”
His medal ceremony passed without incident, unlike on Sunday when Sun demanded it be re-run after the flags fell off the hoist, but the 26-year-old had little time to enjoy his victory before he was back on deck for the relay.
Matsumoto had a lead of a body length at the start of the final leg and while Sun gave it his all, the Japanese held on to win his country’s fourth gold medal of the night in 7:05.17.
INDIA SUFFER FIRST LOSS
India’s men suffered their first ever kabaddi defeat at the Asian Games when they slumped 24-23 to South Korea in a group match on Monday.
The seven-time champions beat both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Sunday to stamp their authority but they met their match in South Korea, ending a run of 32 straight wins.
India have only lost once before in the home-grown, breath-holding sport, after they went down to the same opponents at the 2016 World Cup.
“What a massive upset. South Korea beats India in men’s Kabaddi @ asiangames2018 24-23. Indians looked a bit complacent,” former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha said on Twitter.
Kabaddi, an ancient sport rooted in Indian mythology, made its Asian Games debut in Beijing in 1990.