United News of Bangladesh

Thailand’s Puripol Boonson equaled the Asian record in the men’s 200 meters, while China secured three athletics gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday. Boonson clocked 19.88 seconds in the men’s 200m final to match the Asian record set by China’s Xie Zhenye in 2019. China’s Huang Youwen finished second in 20.45 seconds. “It was the first time I’d ever raced someone at that level, and it was a great experience,” Huang said. “We were only 50 meters in, and I could already tell how fast he was.” Huang said he would set ambitious goals ahead of next year’s world championships. China began its gold-medal haul with Chen Yuanjiang’s victory in the men’s 110m hurdles. Chen finished in 13.15 seconds, ahead of Japan’s Rachid Muratake and the Philippines’ John Tolentino. China had won the event at 10 consecutive Asian Games before failing to claim the title at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. “I’m thrilled. We’ve taken this gold medal back,” Chen said after his victory. In the women’s javelin, China’s Asian record holder Yan Ziyi secured gold with a 70.46-meter throw on her opening attempt. Japan’s Olympic champion Haruka Kitaguchi took silver with 62.70 meters. Yan’s effort also surpassed the previous Asian Games record of 66.09 meters set by compatriot Liu Shiying. “I didn’t expect to wrap it up in one throw,” Yan said, adding that she hopes to target another record at next year’s world championships in Beijing. Singapore’s Shanti Pereira successfully defended her women’s 200m Asian Games title with a season-best 22.78 seconds. China’s 17-year-old Chen Yujie, who won the 100m with a Games record, took silver in 22.93 seconds. Chen said she had planned to stay close to Pereira through the bend before attempting to overtake her in the final straight. In the women’s long jump, China’s Huang Yingying produced a 6.55-meter effort in her final attempt to overtake India’s Ancy Sojan Edappilly by two centimeters. China’s Tan Mengyi won bronze with 6.46 meters. Huang, who also won silver in the triple jump, said she needed to improve her consistency ahead of next year’s world championships and the 2028 Olympics. In the men’s high jump, Chinese Taipei’s Fu Chao-hsuan cleared 2.25 meters to win gold, with India’s Sarvesh Kushare taking silver. Qatar’s 35-year-old Olympic medalist Mutaz Barshim withdrew from the final. Earlier Sunday, Japan’s Hayato Katsuki won the men’s marathon race walk in 3:03:36, finishing ahead of China’s Zhou Yingcheng. Kazakhstan’s Yasmina Toxanbayeva claimed the women’s title in 3:22:20, while China’s Danzengquzong and Ma Li took silver and bronze. China’s men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams also won their respective heats to advance to the finals.