JAKARTA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Rising Bahrain and India have posed strong challenges for China's dominance in athletics at Jakarta Asian Games, though China has topped the tally with 33 medals of different colors after the last day of competition on Thursday.
Bahrain has increased its number of gold to 12, the same as that of China, with overwhelming performances of its naturalized runners to win three more golds on Thursday.
First in the women's 4x100m relay final, led by women's 100m and 200m gold medalist Edidiong Odiong, a high-spirit Bahrain came from behind at last to beat defending champion China to win gold, creating new Asian Games record of 42.73 seconds. A young team of China, headed by veteran sprinter Wei Yongli, clocked at 42.84 to took silver and Kazakhstan get bronze at 43.82.
Then in the women's 1,500m, Ethiopia-born Kalkidan Befkadu, gold medalist of 5,000m, won her second gold for Bahrain in 4:07.88. Her teammate Tigist Belay to claim silver in 4:09.12 and Indian Chitra Palakeezh Unnikrishnan finished third in 4:12.56.
Bahrain continued its winning steak in the men's 5,000m final as Birhanu Balew and Albert Rop wrapped up gold and silver. Tariq Ahmed Alamri took bronze for Saudi Arabia.
In total, Bahrain bagged 12 golds, six silvers and seven bronzes, ranking the second in medal tally of athletics, following China which ended with 12-12-9.
TRANSITIONAL CHINA'S TUMBLING NO. 1
Chen Yang won China the only athletics gold on Thursday in women's discus throw. Her teammate Feng Bin added a silver. Seema Punia from India took bronze.
The 27-year-old Chen, who ranked the 7th at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, dominated the field and anchored gold in her last attempt, reaching 65.12 meters.
In men's 50km walk, Wang Qin realized his dream to win a medal in Jakarta by claiming silver in the men's 50km walk in 4:06:48. Japanese Hayato Katsuki won gold comfortably in 4:03:30 and South Korean Joo Hyunm-yeong settled for bronze in 4:10:21.
In the most-watched men's 4x100 relay race on Thursday night, defending champion China, with a mixed force and veteran plus newbies, surrendered gold. Japan finished first in 38.16 and host Indonesia beat China to win silver with a time of 38.77. China rest on bronze in 38.89.
"Actually, like two years ago, we could easily finish the relay in the time that Japan did tonight. Team China is on transition. Our runners are young and inexperienced. We need time, but we have to train really hard," said Su Bingtian, the men's 100m gold winner.
The fastest man in Asia turned 29 on Wednesday and he said he would like to dedicate his medals to his new-born son.
"We have to look to future, like my son, he is my future and the medals are my gift to him," he added.
INDIA TO WATCH
In men's 1,500m, Indian Jinson Johnson, silver medalist of 800m, grabbed gold in 3:44.72, while Amir Moradi from Iran took silver in 3:45.62 and Mohammed Tiouali won bronze for Bahrain in 3:45.88.
India also beat Bahrain to win the country's second athletic gold of the day in women's 4x400m relay in 3:28.72. Vietnam claimed bronze.
In total, India finished third in athletics medal tally with seven golds, 10 silvers and two bronzes, including star sprinter Dutee Chand's two silvers in women's 100m and 200m.
In another two events on Thursday, Olga Rypakova won gold for Kazakhstan in women's triple jump with 14.26 meters, while Thai Parinya Chuaimaroeng took silver and Vietnamese Vu Thi Men bagged bronze.
Qatar raised Asian record in men's 4x400m to 3:00.56 to win gold. India edged Japan to claim silver in 3:01.85, and Japan in 3:01.94 for bronze.
