Xue Fei (c) before kicking to the 5000m title in Guangzhou (© Jiro Mochizuki)
Tejitu Daba Chalchissa learnt a bitter lesson as the Asian Championships kicked off in Guangzhou on Tuesday. “A race is not won till you cross the finish; there can be no relaxation till then.”
The 18-year-old Bahraini who won the Asian Indoor Games title in the 3000m last month looked all set to add the continental title in the 5000m but relaxed a little towards the end to be beaten by Chinese Xue Fei.
Xue Fei’s was the first gold of the 18th Asian Athletics Championships that began at the Olympic Stadium. China added one more through woman shot putter Gong Lijiao.
Filipino Marestella Torres took the women’s Long Jump gold, Qatari James Kwalia claimed the men’s 5000m title and Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov nailed the hammer gold with an effort of 76.92m.
Xue Fei pounces in final 30 metres
No one could have imagined Chalchissa could be beaten at the finish after she took a commanding lead of around 35 metres with two laps to go in the women’s 5000m.
It looked as though Xue, the 2006 World junior champion and winner of the Chinese National Games title in Jinan last month, in 15:11.72, could at best have a battle with the Indian, Kavita Raut, for the silver with the gold well beyond her reach.
As Raut took over second position with two laps remaining and with Chalchissa well in front, the question was when the Chinese would make her move to go past the Indian in an effort to get the silver.
As Raut hit the home straight in front of the chasing bunch, with Chalchissa well on course to victory, Xue changed gears, began to bridge the gap from the Indian, went past her with about 30m to the finish and then, suddenly realizing she had a chance to win the gold, passed Chalchissa who was just ambling along in front.
Chalchissa did not even realise that a furious chase was developing behind her. By the time she looked sideways to see whether the Chinese was getting within reach, it was too late. Xue had the gold in 16:05.19; Chalchissa who took the silver in the Asian cross-country championships this year, when she came into the limelight, came second in a PB of 16:05.45. Raut also had a PB of 16:05.90.
Kwalia takes tactical men’s 5000m
There was excitement in the men’s 5000m as well with the Kenyan-born Kwalia beating compatriot Essa Ismail Rashed and Bahrain’s Mahboob Hasan over the last 90 metres.
In a race that began slowly, picked up momentum for a brief spell only to come down again, amidst high humidity, the Qataris were always the favourites. But the threat of Hasan, the Asian Games champion in 2006, was always there.
With two laps to go, it was Rashed who began to pull away with Hasan in hot pursuit. Kwalia, the bronze medallist at the World championships in August, looked content to play the waiting game and played it to perfection. From about 120 metres out to the finish, it was Hasan who challenged Rashed, with Kwalia beginning to join the battle.
As he overhauled both, Kwalia beckoned his team-mate to follow him and edge Hasan who was making a brave effort to catch up with the Qatari. Rashed could not respond and had to settle for the bronze. Kwalia clocked 14:02.90 for the gold, Hasan 14:03.44 and Rashed14:04.52.
Torres surprises with 6.51m leap to win Long Jump
The Chinese domination of the women’s events on the first day could have been complete had Chen Yaling taken the Long Jump title. That was not to be and Filipino veteran Marestella Torres had her first Asian title at last with a leap of 6.51m that came in the third round.
Chen Yaling and Japanese Sachiko Masumi tied for the silver at 6.28m, with the Chinese winning on countback.
Defending champion Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, favoured to win the title, pulled out at the last minute while Indian Anju Bobby George, who won the silver two years ago, had decided to skip competitions this year.
Their absence took the sheen away from the long jump contest, but Torres wouldn’t be complaining. The 28-year-old Filipino tied her fifth-best mark ever.
World Championship bronze medallist Gong Lijiao needed just two throws to outclass the women’s Shot Put field. She opened with 19.04m and only she could have bettered that. She had another one of 18.80m and a foul before passing her last three attempts.
Team-mate Liu Xiangrong claimed the silver while Iranian Leyla Rejabi took the bronze.
Defending champion Ali Mohammed Al-Zankawi was no match for Nazarov in the hammer contest on Tuesday. Nazarov led from the second round with a 75.52m and stretched it beyond challenge with a last-round effort of 76.92m.
The men’s 100m heats in the morning session produced quite a bit of upset results with none more stunning than the elimination of Japanese Masashi Eriguchi who finished sixth in 10.82 seconds in heat 1. Eriguchi is the season leader with 10.07.
Team-mate Naoki Tsukahara looked on course with a 10.51 finish to win his heat to qualify for the semifinals. Defending champion Samuel Francis withdrew before confirmation of entries.
IAAF President Lamine Diack was among the dignitaries who watched the opening ceremony and the day’s athletics action.
By an IAAF Correspondent
Leading results:
Men: 5000m: 1. James Kwalia Chepkurui (Qat) 14:02.90, 2. Mahboob Hasan (Brn) 14:03.44, 3. Essa Rashed Ismail (Qat) 14:04.52; Hammer: 1. Dilshod Nazarov (Tjk)76.92m, 2. Ali Al-Zankawi (Kuw) 73.45, 3. Ma Liang (Chn) 70.08.
Women: 5000m: 1. Xue Fei (Chn) 16:05.19, 2. Tejitu Daba Chalchissa (Brn) 16:05.45, 3. Kavita Raut (Ind); long jump: 1. Marestella Torres (Phi) 6.51m, 2. Chen Yaling (Chn) 6.28, 3. Sachiko Masumi (Jpn) 6.28;Shot put: 1. Gong Lijiao (Chn) 19.04m, 2. Liu Xiang Rong (Chn)17.55, 3. Leyla Rajabi (Iri) 16.71.
Click here for full results
The 18-year-old Bahraini who won the Asian Indoor Games title in the 3000m last month looked all set to add the continental title in the 5000m but relaxed a little towards the end to be beaten by Chinese Xue Fei.
Xue Fei’s was the first gold of the 18th Asian Athletics Championships that began at the Olympic Stadium. China added one more through woman shot putter Gong Lijiao.
Filipino Marestella Torres took the women’s Long Jump gold, Qatari James Kwalia claimed the men’s 5000m title and Tajikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov nailed the hammer gold with an effort of 76.92m.
Xue Fei pounces in final 30 metres
No one could have imagined Chalchissa could be beaten at the finish after she took a commanding lead of around 35 metres with two laps to go in the women’s 5000m.
It looked as though Xue, the 2006 World junior champion and winner of the Chinese National Games title in Jinan last month, in 15:11.72, could at best have a battle with the Indian, Kavita Raut, for the silver with the gold well beyond her reach.
As Raut took over second position with two laps remaining and with Chalchissa well in front, the question was when the Chinese would make her move to go past the Indian in an effort to get the silver.
As Raut hit the home straight in front of the chasing bunch, with Chalchissa well on course to victory, Xue changed gears, began to bridge the gap from the Indian, went past her with about 30m to the finish and then, suddenly realizing she had a chance to win the gold, passed Chalchissa who was just ambling along in front.
Chalchissa did not even realise that a furious chase was developing behind her. By the time she looked sideways to see whether the Chinese was getting within reach, it was too late. Xue had the gold in 16:05.19; Chalchissa who took the silver in the Asian cross-country championships this year, when she came into the limelight, came second in a PB of 16:05.45. Raut also had a PB of 16:05.90.
Kwalia takes tactical men’s 5000m
There was excitement in the men’s 5000m as well with the Kenyan-born Kwalia beating compatriot Essa Ismail Rashed and Bahrain’s Mahboob Hasan over the last 90 metres.
In a race that began slowly, picked up momentum for a brief spell only to come down again, amidst high humidity, the Qataris were always the favourites. But the threat of Hasan, the Asian Games champion in 2006, was always there.
With two laps to go, it was Rashed who began to pull away with Hasan in hot pursuit. Kwalia, the bronze medallist at the World championships in August, looked content to play the waiting game and played it to perfection. From about 120 metres out to the finish, it was Hasan who challenged Rashed, with Kwalia beginning to join the battle.
As he overhauled both, Kwalia beckoned his team-mate to follow him and edge Hasan who was making a brave effort to catch up with the Qatari. Rashed could not respond and had to settle for the bronze. Kwalia clocked 14:02.90 for the gold, Hasan 14:03.44 and Rashed14:04.52.
Torres surprises with 6.51m leap to win Long Jump
The Chinese domination of the women’s events on the first day could have been complete had Chen Yaling taken the Long Jump title. That was not to be and Filipino veteran Marestella Torres had her first Asian title at last with a leap of 6.51m that came in the third round.
Chen Yaling and Japanese Sachiko Masumi tied for the silver at 6.28m, with the Chinese winning on countback.
Defending champion Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan, favoured to win the title, pulled out at the last minute while Indian Anju Bobby George, who won the silver two years ago, had decided to skip competitions this year.
Their absence took the sheen away from the long jump contest, but Torres wouldn’t be complaining. The 28-year-old Filipino tied her fifth-best mark ever.
World Championship bronze medallist Gong Lijiao needed just two throws to outclass the women’s Shot Put field. She opened with 19.04m and only she could have bettered that. She had another one of 18.80m and a foul before passing her last three attempts.
Team-mate Liu Xiangrong claimed the silver while Iranian Leyla Rejabi took the bronze.
Defending champion Ali Mohammed Al-Zankawi was no match for Nazarov in the hammer contest on Tuesday. Nazarov led from the second round with a 75.52m and stretched it beyond challenge with a last-round effort of 76.92m.
The men’s 100m heats in the morning session produced quite a bit of upset results with none more stunning than the elimination of Japanese Masashi Eriguchi who finished sixth in 10.82 seconds in heat 1. Eriguchi is the season leader with 10.07.
Team-mate Naoki Tsukahara looked on course with a 10.51 finish to win his heat to qualify for the semifinals. Defending champion Samuel Francis withdrew before confirmation of entries.
IAAF President Lamine Diack was among the dignitaries who watched the opening ceremony and the day’s athletics action.
By an IAAF Correspondent
Leading results:
Men: 5000m: 1. James Kwalia Chepkurui (Qat) 14:02.90, 2. Mahboob Hasan (Brn) 14:03.44, 3. Essa Rashed Ismail (Qat) 14:04.52; Hammer: 1. Dilshod Nazarov (Tjk)76.92m, 2. Ali Al-Zankawi (Kuw) 73.45, 3. Ma Liang (Chn) 70.08.
Women: 5000m: 1. Xue Fei (Chn) 16:05.19, 2. Tejitu Daba Chalchissa (Brn) 16:05.45, 3. Kavita Raut (Ind); long jump: 1. Marestella Torres (Phi) 6.51m, 2. Chen Yaling (Chn) 6.28, 3. Sachiko Masumi (Jpn) 6.28;Shot put: 1. Gong Lijiao (Chn) 19.04m, 2. Liu Xiang Rong (Chn)17.55, 3. Leyla Rajabi (Iri) 16.71.
Click here for full results
