Athletics Report Asian Youth Games Nanjing 2013

Asian Youth Games – day four review (22 August 2013)

An afternoon storm in Nanjing, was a welcome relief from the heat wave conditions the athletes endured on the first three days. The lower temperatures were also timely with four endurance events on the program.

The outstanding success of coach Junwei Yang continued on the final evening on the AYG with his athletes claiming the two discus titles on offer in world leading performances.

Bronze medallists at the recent world youth championships, Yulong Cheng (CHN) dominated the boys’ discus from his first throw of 58.30m. His series included two throws over 60 metres, but his best of 62.03m on the final throw, was just short of his personal record of 62.80m, set in Donetsk, which was the world’s leading under-17 performance this year.

"I didn't feel good about the last throw. I was a little surprised because I didn't expect to throw that far,” he said. "I'm very excited. It's not until today that all my toil and sweat finally paid off. I'm grateful for the chance that allowed me to perform well here."

The fourth gold for the Yang-coached group was nailed by girls’ discus champion, Kangping Sun (CHN), who set a world leading performance of 49.28m in the first round to win gold by nearly five metres.

“I'm very excited now. In the beginning of the competition, I felt very nervous, but I got more and more relaxed. My coach told me to compete at my normal level, take it easy and perform as usual.”

Yang and his four throwers from Lianyungang Sports school in Jiangsu Province, depart Nanjing with four titles and a string of outstanding performances.

Hunan sprinter Guifen Huang (CHN), who won her speciality the 400 metres on day two, added the 200 metres title tonight in Nanjing with a massive personal best of 23.82, her first ever sub-24 performance.

A semi-finalist in the 400 metres at last month’s IAAF world youth championships, Huang hopes to continue her career on the international stage.

"I hope to take part in some bigger international sporting events, and I plan to take part in the YOG next year."

The athletes in the 3000 metre events led from the gun and were never under threat as they took the titles.

Liu Hongliang (CHN), a student at Inner Mongolia Vocational College of Physical Education in Tuquan City, led at each kilometre, passed in very uneven splits, of 2:57, 2:42 and 2:46, hitting the line in 8:25.86. In the girls race, Japan’s Fukiko Ando was even more dominant. She recorded kilometres splits of 3:05, 3:09 and 3:09, stopping the clock at 9:23.50, 10 seconds outside her personal best. Ando had run away from the field very early and after four laps led the Korean pair, working together, by 30 metres. This was extended to 120 metres by the finish line.

Indian athlete, Anjana Dhavalu Thamake, running for the Independent Olympic Athletes team, came from behind to win the girls 800 metres in 2:11.47. In the boy’s 800m, Korea’s Sangmin Lee led at the bell in 56.61, going on to win in 1:54.64.

Other winners on the final evening were:

·         Chun-Han Yang (TPE) boys’ 200m 21.47

·         Witthawal Thumcha (THA) boys’ 400m hurdles 52.79

·         Ying Yu (CHN) girls’ 400m hurdles 63.28

·         Yuji Hiramatsu (JPN) boys’ high jump 2.06m

·         Yue Ma (CHN) girls’ triple jump 12.55m

Healthy crowd numbers in excess of 20,000 on most evenings augurs well for next year’s youth Olympics. As we have come to know, the enthusiastic Chinese crowds politely support all competitors, but can always find an extra cheer for a host nation athlete.

Team China dominated the competition taking 19 gold, ahead of Japan 4, Thailand 3, Korea and Chinese Taipei with two each and on one medal Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Independent Olympic Athletes.

Maurice Nicholas (SIN), Honorary Secretary of the Asian Athletics Association, was full of praise for the organisers.

"Let me congratulate the organisers on a very well organised games that is running so well. Perhaps the most beautiful thing is that everything runs on time. I simply couldn't find any problems."

However Mr Nicholas has been concerned with the lack of athletes converting this junior success into senior ranks.

"Perhaps the biggest (challenge) is the attrition. The youth are doing very well at the moment and this is good for (next year's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing) but due to studies and other things, the number of Asian athletes in the (older groups) dwindles. We hope this will change with these great results (in Nanjing).

“This is the first step, the youth, next we have the juniors and then the seniors. It is a very good sign to see these youth doing so well in Nanjing. It's been very, very encouraging. It is wonderful to see all the personal bests up on the scoreboard so often. This is a very good sign for the youth of Asia, and for athletics in Asia.”

David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com

*photo- Thailand athlete Tontrakan Chuthueng competed in boys discus throw (by Lintao Zhang) 

 

READ: ASIAN Youth Games 2013 (Athletics): Preview - Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3
 

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Athletics Report Day 3 - Asian Youth Games 2013

Asian Youth Games – day three review

After China’s dominance on day two, it was Japan’s turn, courtesy of two fine sprint hurdlers, to steel the limelight on day three of the Asian Youth Games, currently being held in Nanjing. Along with Japan, five other countries, China, Syria, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand shared the gold medals.

Takumu Furuya (Asian AA)

Tonight, Japan’s Takumu Furuya stamped himself as one of the finest all round junior hurdlers in the world. At the recent IAAF world youth championships, he placed an outstanding fourth in the 400m hurdles, in a 16-years world leading time of 51.00 seconds. But at the Asian Youth championships, he switched his attention to the 110m hurdles. Arriving at the meet he owned a personal best of 13.92, which he smashed in the heat, running 13.64, before destroying his best again with 13.36 in the final - the second fastest time in the world for his age.

"From the preliminary to the final, everything was smooth, although I got an injury some days before I came here. But finally I made it, I got the gold medal, I am so happy," he said.

Second in the hurdles was Sri Lanka’s Akila Ravisanka, a year 11 high school student from a village outside of Columbo. Coached by Indika Jayasinghe, Ravisanka clocked a big personal best time of 13.99.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Nana Fujimori (JPN) lived up to expectations coasting to the line nearly a flight ahead of her closest rival, Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Lan. There was unsteadiness at on the line at the first attempt to start the race, but no one awarded a break.

“The first false start had no effect on me,” commented Fujimori, whose winning time of 13.69, into a slight headwind, was faster than she recorded at the recent IAAF world youth championships, where she progressed to the semi-finals. But the time was still outside her personal best of 13.66 recorded in 2012. Nguyen, clocked 14.43 for the silver medal, just ahead of Indonesia’s Ken Ayuthaya Purnama in 14.45.

After three rounds the girls javelin was a fairly close battle between Korea’s Youngin Kang and Wan-Chi Chang of Chinese Taipei, with both throwing in the 45 to 47 metre range. But the competition was ripped apart in round four when Kang, added four metres to her personal best with an enormous throw of 54.31m. The distance also moved Kang from outside the world top 12 rankings to number three under-17 javelin thrower this year. After temporarily losing second position, Chang closed out the competition herself with a personal best of 47.75m and the silver medal.

Local athlete, Yin Dong from Lianyungang city in Jiangsu Province, dominated the girls’ shot put. Her winning put of 15.58m eventually would have been sufficient to win, but she extended this twice, with marks of 16.69m and 16.84m to claim the gold by 1.58 metres from Korea’s Yusun Jeong who put 15.26 on her fifth attempt. Dong’s distance also moved her to number four in the world.

"Firstly, I'd like to appreciate government officials for their help and support. Then, I want to celebrate and share my joy with my coach,” said Dong, referring to one of the meet’s most successful coaches, Junwei Yang who also coaches last evening boys’ hammer throwing champion Yuanbo Ding. Dong and Ding attend the Lianyungang Sports School.

"She was a little impetuous in her second put, so I told her that she should watch her psychological attitude," said coach Yang.

“She will try her best to take part in Youth Olympic Games next year. I hope she can be selected to the national team. She trains five times a week and every time for 1.5 hours.”

Syria’s Raya Fatima had little trouble accounting for the girls’ 2000 metres steeplechase field. After running the initial lap with the pack, Fatima moved away from the field, and was particularly strong over the last lap to cross the line in 7:07.82, over 20 seconds ahead of silver medallist Vietnam’s Tran Thi Mai.

Nguyen Thi Truc (VIE) claimed the toughest leg of a potential horizontal jumps double, when she took gold in the girls’ long jump. Nguyen, leapt a best of 5.90m on her third attempt, just short of her national junior championships winning distance of 5.97m. One of the finest triple jumpers in the world for her age, Nguyen starts favourite tomorrow night in her speciality.

Thailand’s Khathawut Meanim, bounded into the world’s top-10 boys’ triple jumpers with a first round personal best of 15.11m, a distance which would hold up for gold.

There was a close battle in the boys’ 2000m steeplechase until the bell, when Hu Ma sprinted away from his teammate Aihemaiti Ainikeerjiang. Ma, who clocked 5:53.16 was so excited he sprinted a victory.

“I didn’t expect that I would get such a great result before the race,” said Ma, an inexperienced steeplechaser. “It hasn’t been long since I practiced steeplechase running, I feared that I won’t get past those barriers.”

The Chinese teammates had run side by side until the bell.

“He (the silver) and I are teammates. We cooperated with each other during the race. I followed him rather than run ahead.”

Ainikeerjiang, from Inner Mongolia, clocked 6:00.31, 10 seconds outside his goal.

"I didn't feel very good today, but it was passable, because my goal is 5:50 minutes. My teammate (Ma) and I had a strategy today because my usual performance is better than his, so I led. On the last lap, me and him, sprinted for the gold, but I was worn out, so I only get the silver medal."

It has taken time for Ainikeerjiang to convince family and friends to support him in his running.

"I started practicing athletics when I was 12, and at first my mom didn't allow me to practice athletics because she thought it was too hard for me, but I didn't think so and have stuck to it. There were people who doubted my ability, but I wasn't affected by what others said, and I tried my best and ranked second place when they selected athletes to participate in the AYG, and I made it and proved myself now."

David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com

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Athletics Report Asian Youth Games, Nanjing 2013

Asian Youth Games – day two review (20 August 2013)

In very humid conditions China’s athletes dominated day two of the Asian Youth Games, being held in Nanjing, winning eight of the 10 gold medals on offer.

One of the performances of the evening was the win in the boys’ hammer throw by Yuanbo Ding. Carrying the extra pressure of being a local resident of Jiangsu Province’s Lianyungang City, Ding was never troubled taking the title by over 10 metres with a six metres personal best of 73.73m.

“I'm so excited to win,” he said. “At first, I was pretty nervous. I felt better after I threw the hammer the first time.”

Going into the final round Ding had thrown a best of 71.00 metres, but added over two metres to his best on his final attempt.

“Usually, I get my best throw on the second or the third throw, so I was a little surprised indeed. On the last attempt, I felt relaxed so I just threw it."

Coached by Junwei Yang, Ding moved up from 14th on the world under-17 ranking list to third.

The boy’s 100 metres final lived up to expectations built up by close races in the early rounds. But in the final, the less favoured, riding a wave of local support, Zhenkun Xia grabbed the title in 10.71, just ahead of Thailand’s Nutthapong Veerarwongratanasiri and Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Han Yang who both clocked 10.73. Veerarwongratanasiri, who didn’t start well had other dramas in the race, pulling his hamstring on the finish line. Yang was disappointed with his result, refusing to speak to the media after the race.

Fujian Province sprinter, Manqi Ge, who was a semi-finalist the IAAF world youth championships last month, clocked a wind assisted 11.91 as she cruised to victory in the girls’ 100 metres. Coached by Chaoxu Liu, Ge defeated Thailand pair Parichat Charoensuk and Kanchanaporn Sintaksab.

The heat affected many of the athletes in the 1500 metres with many struggling to leave the track after the crossed the line. China’s Guoyu Zhao, from Su Qian city in Jiangsu Province, broke away from the pack with 200 metres remaining to take the title in 4:35.06, just ahead of Indonesia’s Aprilia Kartina.

"Today is the birthday of my coach (Jiang Chao),” Zhao said. “Before the match, I had already told the media through the phone that I would try my best to get the gold medal as his birthday present."

Wei Wang, completed the Chinese double in the 1500m, taking the boys’ race in 4:03.75. A very fresh Wang sprinted a victory lap.

In the boys’ long jump, Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Sheng Huang dominated the event with his first four jumps over seven metres, led by his fourth round leap of 7.23m. It was a terrific battle for the minor medals with both Jie Li (CHN) and Hyunjong Kim (KOR) jumping 6.98m. A count back was required to split the medals, with Li’s second best of 6.98m just ahead of Kim’s 6.94m.

One of the two athletes to stand in the way of a Chinese clean sweep on day two was Thailand’s Mingkamon Koomphon in the girls’ hammer thrower. From her opening throw of 58 metres Koomphon was never headed, in a very consistent series which included five throws over 57 metres. Mingzhu Jiang (CHN) was second with 56.33m.

Hunan Province’s Guilfen Huang (CHN) won the girls’ 400 metres by over two seconds in 53.65 and her team mate Zhihang Xu (CHN) took the boys’ title in 48.39.

China’s national youth champion, Chaoqun Li, from Zhejiang Province, added the Asian Youth Games title to her collection, raising her personal best of 3.80m to 4.00 metres in Nanjing tonight.

David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com

READ: ASIAN Youth Games 2013 (Athletics): Preview - Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4

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Nanjing Asian Youth Games 2013 - Athletics Day 1

Asian Youth Games – day one review (19 August 2013)

Three exciting field events dominated day one of the athletics program at the second Asian Youth Games, being held in Nanjing.

Heavy rain during the day cleared for the evening’s competition which including sprint heats and finals of the boys shot, javelin and pole vault and the girls high jump.

Aged just 15 years, Hussain Al Hizam is Saudi Arabia’s best ever pole vaulter, raising the national open record on five occasions this year, taking it from 4.95 to 5.27m. Tonight in Nanjing, he opened his competition with 4.60m which he cleared on his second attempt to put him in second place behind Iraq’s Muntadher Abdulwahid who had cleared on his first attempt. At 4.70m, Abdulwahid missed his attempts, while Al Hizam negotiated the height on his third attempt to take the title.

 Hussain Al Hizam 
(by Bouhouche blog)

The boys’ javelin was a come from behind win to Chinese Taipei’s Jenwei Tsai. After three rounds China’s Zhuqing Su led comfortably with his first round throw of 67.35m, ahead of Sungming Lee (TPE) on 65.90m and Ao Zhou (CHN) with 64.94m. But the competition changed dramatically when in round five, Tsai, a student at National Yilan Senior High School, launched the javelin out to 70.41m to take the lead by over three metres. Su tried his best and responded with a personal record of 67.51m on the event’s final throw, to confirm the silver medal.

"My best throw tonight was made when I felt well and I found my confidence back,” said Tsai.
“My earlier throws were not that good, so I adjusted mentality. I took a medal, which made me happy and satisfied. But I won't have a party or travel in Nanjing to celebrate. I will fly back (home) soon, because when school starts I will have many other competitions."

Favourite for the boys’ shot, was local athlete Jianping Han who started slowly, eventually securing the victory with his very last throw of 18.87m. Japan’s Yume Ando, led early with 17.36m in round three, eventually putting 18.07m in round four for his best of the day.

"I am very excited and I had never thought about this result. I broke my own record (18.50m) and reached a new level - 18.87m.,” said Han.
"I am now studying at Jiangsu 101 High School and I keep training during my study time."

China’s Manqi Ge, a semi-finalist at the recent IAAF world youth championships clocked the quickest time in the girls 100 metres round one. Ge, running in heat two ran 12.07, just quicker than her 12.08 she clocked in Donestsk. Her main opposition appears to be from winners of heat three and four, Kayla Richardson (PHI) and Min Song (CHN). There will be two Richardson’s in tomorrow night’s semi-final as Kayla’s twin Kyla Richardson also progressed.

There was no clear favourite amongst the round one winners of the boys 100 metres. Chinese Taipei’s Chun-Han Yang led the qualifiers on 10.84, but tied on 10.85 were Nutthapong Veerarwongratanasiri (THA) and Zhenkun Xia (CHN). Xia looks to be the main threat.

“I’m coming back from injury,” he said. “My goal is to enjoy the games.”

In the final event to be decided on the night, Luwei Guan (CHN) took the girls high jump with a clearance of 1.65m.

In the girls 400m heats, the fastest time was recorded by Guifen Huang (CHN), who clocked 55.39, while in the boy’s long jump Chun-Sheng Huang (TPE) led the qualifying round with a leap of 7.09m.

David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com

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Athletics Preview 2013 Asian Youth Games, Nanjing China

Athletics preview 2013 Asian Youth Games

The athletics program at the second Asian Youth Games commences tomorrow in the Olympics Sports Centre Stadium in the Chinese city of Nanjing. The AYG will conduct competition in 15 sports and similar to the 2009 AYG in Singapore, it is an ideal test event for the IOC Youth Olympic Games to be held 12 months later in the same city. Heat wave conditions are expected to ease slightly for the four evenings of competition commencing on Monday August 19.

2009 Asian Youth Games

The inaugural AYG were held in Singapore in June and July 2009 with 38 Asian Athletics Association member federations competing. At those Games China dominated the competition winning 12 medals including nine gold. There was a close battle between the next three delegations, Japan, Thailand and India, with each country winning eight medals and four gold. A total of 22 countries shared in the medal count.

Many of the athletes have in the ensuring years gone on to successfully compete at the major international meets including the IAAF world juniors, 2010 YOG, 2010 Commonwealth Games including: Korea’s Lee Sun-Yae who competed at the IAAF 2011 world championships and Japan’s Masaki Nashimoto who won silver in the 100m at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in a swift 10.51.

2013 Asian Youth Games Federations

In athletics 37 federations will contest the 2013 AYG, one less than in 2009, however a number of athletes will compete in the Independent Olympic Athletes team, and with entries numbering 400 athletes, it will be a more competitive event than the inaugural games.

Host nation, China, will be represented by the largest delegation of 61 athletes, followed by Thailand with 30 and Chinese Taipei 25 athletes. Three nations that did not compete in athletics in 2009, join the games in 2013: Afghanistan, Lebanon and Malaysia.

2013 Asian Youth Games feature athletes

The competition is for athletes in the under-17 age division, however a few under-18 athletes will compete for the Independent Olympic Athletes team. There are a number of the world’s leading under-17 year old athletes entered for competition including:

LI Zhe (CHN) – boys 200m

Statistics: Finalist 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships; PB 21.49; U17 world ranking 10th

LI Zhe, from Hubei provience, is one of the leading and most consistent sprinters at the 2013 AYG clocking five times under 21.70 this year. He progressed through the heat, semi and into the final at the IAAF world youth championships in Donetsk in the Ukraine in July. He clocked his personal best of 21.49 in the semi-final. He has also run 10.68 for the 100m this season. Li faces good competition from Thailand’s Nutthapong Weerawongratanasiri (THA) who in June, won the 200m at the SEA Youth Athletics championships in Ho-Chi-Minh where he clocked an impressive 21.53.

LIU Hongliang (CHN) – boys 3000m        

Statistics: PBs 3000m 8:28.19, 5000m 14:20.44; U17 world rankings 3000m 10th, 5000m 3rd

Liu Hongliang, China’s national youth 1500m and 3000m champion, will start as favourite in the 3000m in Nanjing. From the providence of Inner Mongolia, Liu has been competitive with the nation’s senior athletes placing fourth in the 5000 metres at the senior national grand prix final where he clocked a time of 14:20.44 to rank him number three under-17 in the world.

FURUYA Takumu (JPN) – boys 400m hurdles

Statistics: PB 51.00; 4th place IAAF world youth championships; U17 world ranking 1st

Takumu Furuya of Japan is one of the competitions leading athletes. In July, the 16-year-old placed fourth at the IAAF world youth (under-18) championships. He clocked his personal best of 51.00 in the semi-final, a time that remains over a second faster than any other 16-year-old in the world. Earlier this month, he tuned up the AYG by winning the Japanese national schools championships in 51.16.

BAI Jiaxu (CHN) – boys high jump

Statistics: PB 2.18m; silver medallist IAAF world youth championships; U17 world ranking 1st

Bai Jiaxu, at just 15, is the world’s second best under-18 athlete following his silver medal winning result at the  IAAF world youth championships last month in the Ukraine. Bai, from Shanxi province, has compiled a consistent record this year, with three competitions at 2.15m or higher. Tremendous competition will be provided by Japan’s 2.10m jumper, Yuji Hiramatsu, who is the fourth ranked under-17 athlete in the world.

CHENG Yulong (CHN) – boys discus

Statistics: PB 62.80m; bronze medal  IAAF world youth championships; U17 world ranking 1st

Cheng Yulong, a bronze medallist at the recent IAAF world youth championships, carries the pressure of being a local favourite as he is from the province of Jiangsu. The world’s leading under-17 discus thrower, Cheng, is also a handy shot putter with a best of 17.77m.

DING Yuanbo (CHN) – boys hammer throw

Statistics: PB 67.46m; U17 world ranking 2nd

Another with the pressure of being a local from the Jiangsu province is hammer thrower Ding Yuanbo. He is the world’s second best under-17 thrower with a best of 67.46, recorded in April when he won the national youth title for China.

CHAND Duttee (AOI) – girls 100m

Statistics: PB 11.62; finalist IAAF world youth championships

At the IAAF world youth championships in July, Duttee Chand set an Indian national record of 11.62 as she progressed to the final. She also has impressive 200m and 400m pbs of 23.76 and 55.55.

ANDO Fukiko (JPN) – girls 3000m

Statistics: PB 9:13.24; U17 world ranking 5th

Fukiki Ando is expected to be one of the most comfortable winners at the games, as she possess a personal best nearly a minute ahead of her closest rival. Her best time of 9:13.24 was recorded this month at the national high school championships of Japan.

FUJIMORI Nana (JPN) – girls 100m hurdles

Statistics: PB 13.66; semi-finalist IAAF world youth championships

Nana Fujimori progressed to the semi-finalist at the recent IAAF world youth championships where she clocked 13.75, just outside her personal best of 13.66, recorded in 2012.

NGUYEN Thi Truc Mai (VIE) – girls triple jump

Statistics: PB 12.76m; U17 world ranking 4th

The national junior champion of Vietnam, Thi Truc Mai Nguyen is the world’s fourth best under-17 triple jumper. She is also a capable long jumper with a personal best of 5.97m.

David Tarbotton for AdrianSprints.com

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