China tops gymnastics medal tally at Jakarta Asiad, history made by host Indonesia

Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-24 22:22:02|Editor: Chengcheng
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(SP)INDONESIA-JAKARTA-ASIAN GAMES-ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS

(From L to R) Silver medalist Xiao Ruoteng of China poses with gold medalist Zou Jingyuan of China and Chiba Kenta of Japan during the awarding ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Men's Parallel Bars Final at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

JAKARTA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China won two more gymnastics golds at the Asian Games here on Friday to top the medal tally with an impressive 18 medals.

Previously, China won six gold medals from men's and women's team and all-around events, as well as rings and uneven bars finals. In total, the Chinese gymnasts brought home eight gold, five silver and five bronze medals.

On Friday, Zou Jingyuan and Xiao Ruoteng wrapped up the gold and silver medals for China from the parallel bars final. Japanese Kenta Chiba took the bronze.

China's Chen Yile showed no signs of wear and tear after winning two golds in the team and all-around events to claim her third gold medal from the beam final with 14.600 points. Her teammate Zhang Jin won the bronze with 13.325 points.

The 16-year-old Chen, who finished fifth on the floor exercise later in the day, showed determination to polish her skills for new high.

"I'm quite aware that vault and floor exercise can always weigh me down. That's exactly what I will work for with extra efforts in the future," said Chen, shyly.

Kim Su Jong from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) won the beam silver with 13.400 points, but she came back strongly to end the country's gold drought at this Asian Games in floor exercise.

It is a memorable day for host Indonesia as its history of gymnastics has been rewritten twice in a day.

First came Agus Adi Prayoko, 29, who made history in the men's vault by winning the bronze medal in the deafening cheers of home fans. It is the first-ever gymnastics medal for Indonesia at the Asian Games.

Then it is Rifda Irfanaluthfi to refresh the record by outplaying Shiho Nakaji from Japan in the women's floor exercise to win the silver medal.

"I don't know what to say. I'm proud of being an Indonesian. It's the best gift for myself too," said Irfanaluthfi in tears.

The emotional scenario was also seen when defending champion Shek Wai Hung from Hong Kong, China won his second gold medal from the men's vault final.

The 26-year-old who brought home the first ever gymnastics gold at Asiad for Hong Kong, China in Incheon, South Korea four years ago, grabbed the gold in Jakarta with 14.612 points, beating South Korean Kim Hansol, the gold medallist of floor exercise, to second in 14.550 points.

Shek valued his second Asiad gold more than the history-making one four years ago.

"Because I have been through even more over the past four years, pressures as a defending champion, injuries and training and everything," said Shek, sobbing at the mixed zone before cameras.

He hoped his victory could help gymnastics gain popularity and more support in Hong Kong.

Tang Chiahung won the second Asiad gymnastics gold for Chinese Taipei in the horizontal bar final with 14.725 points. His teammate Lee Chihkai made history by winning the pommel horse gold medal one day before.

China's Sun Wei and Xiao Ruoteng won the horizontal bar silver and bronze medals respectively.

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KEY WORDS: Asian Games
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