China is expected to dominate the 2018 Asian Games and the spotlight could be on its controversial and colourful swimmer Sun Yang. China always nets a bulk of its medals from the water.
There is a magical feeling when one watches someone attempting to step into the unknown. Three years ago, one went through such an emotion as Su Bingtian clocked 9.99s and became the first native Asian sprinter to go below 10s for the 100m at the Eugene Grand Prix in the US.
A few weeks ago, the 28-year-old Chinese equalled the Asian record (9.91s) of Qatar’s Nigeriaborn Femi Ogunode in Madrid. That made him the eighth fastest runner in the world this year.
With Bingtian breaking what appeared to be a mental barrier, other Asian sprinters have picked up pace too and now, for the first time in history, there are three in the sub10 club this year. China’s Xie Zhenye, like Bingtian, went under 10s twice recently in France and Switzerland and now has a best of 9.97s while Oman’s Barakat Al Harthi ran a 9.97s at the West Asian championships in Amman in July.
With Ogunode missing from Qatar’s lineup for Jakarta — his younger brother Tosin is the only 100m entry from that country — native Asians have a chance to reclaim the ‘fastest man’ title at the 18th Asian Games, the biggest multievent sporting festival after the Olympics, which begins in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia on August 18.
With Qatar’s world champion high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations Athlete of the Year and athletics’ biggest name in the continent, pulling out of the Jakarta Asiad with a knee injury, the men’s 100m will be in the spotlight and has all the ingredients to produce a new Asian record, too.
Denne historien er fra August 25, 2018-utgaven av Sportstar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 25, 2018-utgaven av Sportstar.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tokyo Marathon Cancelled For Amateurs On Coronavirus Fears
Organisers in Japan cancelled the amateur portion of the Tokyo marathon, affecting around 38,000 runners, on fears about the spread of the new coronavirus in Japan.
Right Criteria To Pick The Tennis GOAT
What should the criteria be? What weight should be attached to each criterion? And what should not be considered as valid criteria?
The making of a batting behemoth
If Steve Smith dominated the Ashes in England in a dramatic, blockbuster fashion then his like for like a replacement, Marnus Labuschagne, is the Next Big Thing after an exciting summer of run-glut.
WHEN ACES WERE REWARDED...
It was an evening of nostalgia and celebration when the Sportstar Aces awards were given away in Mumbai.
A question of recognition
After a week of awards, one wonders if it’s only a departed player that one will be named after.
Thinking straight, thinking right!
“A lot depends on when I am bowling and what is required from me. That’s something I do when I play for India and I try to follow the same thing in the domestic circuit,” says Yuzvendra Chahal.
The Big Three and the Next Gen
Though the Big Three are very unlikely to retire during the same year, Judy Murray, mother of Andy, echoed the sentiments of many fans worried about the impact of their departures.
WAKING UP TO MENTAL HEALTH
Sport at large and cricket specifically has taken an inordinately long time to address the elephant in the room — the dark abyss of depression.
Like sunshine in a gloomy dressing room
Bangladesh quick Abu Jayed Rahi is new in the red-ball arena, but his swing brings back old memories — of James Anderson on green tops.
The league of the masses
With traditional clubs locking horns with the hard-working nurseries of the game, the I-League will continue to keep the beating heart of Indian football alive despite official apathy.
