Hangzhou, China, September 27, 2023: China’s Zuo Tong won the gold medal in the Asian Games Women’s Individual All-Around Final at Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon in a surprise result.
The 17-year-old Zuo’s winning total score was 53.565 points. Japan’s Mana Okamura earned the silver medal with 52.898, while Kim Sujong of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea collected the bronze at 51.466.
Zuo scored 12.833 on the vault, 13.733 on the uneven bars, 13.833 on the balance beam, and 13.166 on the floor exercise to secure the victory.
Zuo’s teammate Zhang Jin came into the All-Around Final as the favorite after leading China to the team gold on Monday night, but struggled on the uneven bars and finished fourth on 50.899.
Despite landing awkwardly on her vault, Zhang scored 13.033 and was in second place after the first rotation. She took a hard fall on her first try on the bars, but got up and carried on. It took her three more tries before she was able to execute her routine successfully and she posted a tally of just 10.100 as a result.
An Changok of the DPRK led with 13.500 on the vault after the opening rotation of the competition and held that through the second rotation on the uneven bars with her total at 27.133. Zuo was second at 26.566, while Okamura stood in third at 25.899.
Zhang did well on the beam but was too far behind by the floor exercise to make the podium.
The 153-cm Zuo assumed the lead at 40.399 with a score of 13.833 on the balance beam in the third rotation and retained it with a nice effort on the floor.
“I am very thrilled to win the gold medal today,” Zuo stated. “Overall it was quite nerve wracking. Especially after my teammate (Zhang) struggled through faults.”
Zuo said she tried to block out what happened to Zhang.
“I felt a bit nervous on the first two events,” Zuo commented. “I was a bit scared after Zhang fell. I adjusted my mindset and focused on the rest of the competition.”
Okamura put on an outstanding show on the beam that took her into second at 39.832 during the third rotation. The 18-year-old appeared poised as she moved with precision through her routine.
“I am very happy and delighted,” Okamura remarked. “My goal was to try and win the gold medal. However, I don’t really think I had any major faults. Next year we have the Paris Olympics. I will continue to work hard toward next year.”
An was third on 39.166 heading into the final rotation, but was overtaken by teammate Kim on the floor.
Japan’s Kohane Ushioku withdrew after injuring her left leg on a landing during warmups on the vault. She had to be stretchered off after the mishap and was taken to a hospital for x-rays.
Okamura paid her respects to her fallen teammate.
“Ushioka-san is our spiritual support,” Okamura said. “For me I was able to adjust my focus quickly and was not affected by her injury.”