Hangzhou, China, October 1, 2023: Winfred Mutile Yavi earned Bahrain its fourth gold medal in athletics at the Hangzhou Asian Games when she won the women’s 1500 metres on Sunday night. Now she wants more.
Yavi comfortably won her second Asian Games gold medal, clocking four minutes 11.65 seconds to beat India’s Harmilan Bains, who took the silver in 4.12.74. Another Bahraini, Marta Yota, came third in 4:15.97.
Yavi had won the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2018 Jakarta Games. She will be aiming to defend that title on Monday.
“This win in the 1500m gives me confidence that I can perform in other events than the steeplechase,” said Yavi. “Winning two gold medals in Hangzhou will be huge. It would be a big thing for me and my country.
“I am confident of winning tomorrow, but at the same time you have to be careful when taking part in the steeplechase as you have to clear the hurdles, and especially the water barrier. But I’m looking forward to the race, and hopefully I will be able to win another gold here,” Yavi added.
Her gold medal is the fourth in track and field for Bahrain in Hangzhou. The Kingdom had earlier won the men’s and women’s 10,000m, through Birhanu Balew and Violah Motosio, respectively, as well as Oluwakemi Adekoya in the women’s 400m.
Qatar got into the act at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday when Mohamed Al-Garni won the country its first gold medal in athletics at the Hangzhou Asian Games in a thrilling men’s 1500 metres final.
In a nail-biting finish, Al-Garni warded off a stiff challenge from Indian duo Ajay Kumar Saroj and Jinson Johnson to take the gold medal. The Qatari had to endure agonising moments until race officials confirmed he had won in three minutes 38.36 seconds. Saroj won the silver in 3:38.94 while Johnson took the bronze in 3:39.74.
The Chinese juggernaut in track and field continued impressively as they added three more gold medals on the third night of action taking their gold medal tally in athletics to 10.
The women’s 100m hurdles ended in controversial fashion after China had finished 1-2 with Lin Yuwei taking the gold in 12.74 and compatriot Wu Yanni the silver. But Wu was later disqualified for having jumped the gun. She remonstrated strongly with track officials who allowed her to re-start the race, but it was to no avail as she was later disqualified.
Wu’s ouster allowed India’s Asian champion Jyothi Yarraji to take home the silver medal in 12.91 while Japan’s Yumi Tanaka earned the bronze in 13.04.
China’s other gold medals came in the men’s long jump and women’s discus throw.
In the long jump, Wang Jianan finished first with a leap of 8.22 metres. India’s Sreeshankar was second with 8.19 and another Chinese, Shi Yuhao, was third with 8.10.
It was a one-two for China in the discus throw with Feng Bin setting a Games record of 67.93m to take gold and compatriot Jiang Zhichao clinching silver with 61.04. India’s Seema Punia finished third for bronze with 58.62.