Published on September 28, 2023
Hangzhou, China – The fourth day of the COVID-19 delayed Asian Games in Hangzhou saw a diverse range of sports and some outstanding performances, including China’s youngest Asian Games gold medalist in skateboarding, Japan’s dominance in cycling, and a Thai esports player claiming gold.
In the skate park, 13-year-old Cui Chenxi made history as China’s youngest-ever Asian Games gold medalist by winning the women’s street event. Her remarkable performance, which featured several daring tricks, earned her the gold ahead of compatriot Zeng Wenhui and Japanese competitor Miyu Ito.
Cui Chenxi’s journey in skateboarding began in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, which prevented her from practicing rollerblading, her initial sport.
The street event challenges skaters to perform daring tricks on a course designed to resemble an urban environment, complete with rails and gaps. The competition comprises two “runs” and five individual “tricks,” with the highest-scoring run and two highest-scoring tricks combined for the final score.
In the men’s final, another 13-year-old prodigy, Ginu Onodera, was initially in the lead but failed to land any of his “tricks,” resulting in a seventh-place finish. China’s Zhang Jie, 16, emerged victorious, securing three golds out of four for the host nation in the skate park.
In cricket, on the opening day of the men’s competition, Nepal made history by breaking several records on their way to a 273-run victory over Mongolia. Nepal’s total of 314-3 was the first time any international team surpassed 300 in this format.
The velodrome witnessed Japanese dominance as they won all three gold medals on offer on day four, including the women’s keirin and both the men’s and women’s team pursuit events.
China continued to lead the medal tally, securing gold across various sports, including gymnastics, sailing, chess, beach volleyball, taekwondo, shooting, and Wushu. In the pool, China’s ‘butterfly queen’ Zhang Yufei, 25, added two more gold medals to her collection, including an Asian record in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
Esports also made its mark at the Asian Games, with Thailand winning the gold medal in the online soccer game EA Sports FC Online, and South Korea securing the bronze.
Kuwait’s 60-year-old Abdullah Alrashidi impressed in shooting, equalling a world record in the men’s skeet to secure his country’s first gold of the Games.
The Asian Games in Hangzhou continue to showcase exceptional talent and diverse sporting events, with athletes from across the continent competing for glory.
