Young athletes, veteran stars rack up Asiad honors, fresh successes with dominant showing in track and field events
China’s He Jie reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the men’s marathon at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Oct 5, 2023. He won in two hours, 13 minutes, and two seconds to claim China’s first-ever Asiad men’s marathon gold. (PHOTO / AP)
Pocketing 19 gold, 11 silver, and nine bronze medals, the Chinese track and field team once again proved its dominance at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. And with Team China’s veteran stars still in their prime, several breakthrough performances by a younger generation of athletes bodes well for the future.
Team China’s final athletics triumph at the Hangzhou Asiad was He Jie’s victory in the men’s marathon — China’s first-ever Asian Games gold in the event. The historic moment captured the imagination of fans on social media, with the hashtag “He Jie wins marathon gold” viewed over 20 million times on Weibo within just two hours of his victory.
“Before the start of today’s race, I just told myself, even if I fail to win gold, I must show the spirit of Chinese athletics. Our entire team prepared well for the Asian Games, and we managed to win this gold. The Hangzhou Asian Games are just a start for us. I believe we’ll make more breakthroughs in the future,” said the 24-year-old, who clocked a time of 2:13:02.
He Jie’s coach, Xiao Li, reckons the win is hugely significant for Chinese long-distance running.
“I’m absolutely thrilled because we made history for Chinese marathon running. We talked about if we could achieve a miracle, and we did it. It has not been easy for our team and we have been under some pressure. We didn’t even know how to celebrate because this truly is a surprise.
“But after a few days of joy, as we always say, we need to start from zero again and move on to our next goal. Bigger tests await, especially with the Paris Olympics coming next summer.”
Lin Yuwei (left) clears the final hurdle to win the 100m hurdles with a personal best of 12.74 seconds at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Oct 1, 2023. (GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY)
The marathon triumph capped a memorable campaign for the Chinese athletics team, with sprinter Xie Zhenye’s victory in the men’s 100m arguably the highlight.
Clocking in at 9.97 seconds, the veteran star stepped up to fill the void left by the absence of three-time Asiad champion Su Bingtian, whose season was ended by injury.
“This victory is redemption for me and is a huge confidence boost for all Chinese sprinters. For quite a long time, I haven’t been in good condition and I was a little bit lost, but many people helped me and encouraged me,” Xie told China Daily in an exclusive interview.
“It’s been tough for me and my team this season. So, this gold is great recognition for me and boosts my confidence to chase quicker times,” added Xie, who holds the Asian 200m record (19.88).
The outlook had looked bleak for Chinese sprinting in the buildup to the Asian Games. At the Budapest World Athletics Championships in August, there were no Chinese sprinters on show. It was the first time in 14 years that the nation had not sent a single sprinter to the worlds.
“For about two to three months before the Games, I was very quiet on social media and took no interviews. I was thinking, what the fans really want are Chinese sprinters who can win gold medals at major events. So, I was really focused, and did my best in training,” Xie said.
“The moment I won gold at the Asian Games was really special for me. Initially my mind went blank because I was so overcome with joy that I didn’t know how to express myself. I actually felt at peace — the feeling you have after achieving a long-term goal you’ve worked hard for.”
Wang Jianan competes in the men’s long jump final, which he won with a leap of 8.22 meters. (GAO ERQIANG / CHINA DAILY)
Xie clinched his second gold on Oct 3 when he teamed up with youngsters Chen Guanfeng, Yan Haibin, and Chen Jiapeng to claim the men’s 4x100m relay title.
Paying tribute to the young guns, Xie said: “There are so many talented young sprinters coming through. They are absolutely bursting with energy and potential.
“Compared with my generation of sprinters, they are more competitive than when we were at their age, and they have a much better support system,” Xie added.
“I believe they will eventually surpass what we’ve achieved. I hope they can lift Chinese athletics to a higher position on the biggest stages.”
China also excelled in the field events, with women’s shot put legend Gong Lijiao again leading the way by winning her third straight Asiad gold, with a throw of 19.58 meters.
“I still have a dream to finish, which is to reach 21 meters. This is the ultimate challenge for me, and this goal is my best motivation,” said the 34-year-old world and Olympic champion.
“I have won many gold, silver, and bronze medals at Asian Games, world championships, and Olympics. When I finally decide to retire one day, I hope that the younger generation of Chinese shot putters will surpass me.
“I have been testing the limits of not just myself, but also of women’s shot put in China. I hope to contribute more to its growth, and I want to help attract more attention to the sport. In the future, I hope China can continue to claim glory in women’s shot put on the world stage.”
