Guangzhou Games best for China

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Asian powerhouse improve own record as Bangladesh win first ever gold in Games history

VICTORIOUS: Competitors pass the baton to their teammates for the last 100m of the men’s 4x100m relay final in Guangzhou. China won the gold, followed by Taiwan and Thailand. — AFP photo

GUANGZHOU, China: Powerhouse China made Guangzhou its most  successful Asian Games ever yesterday as Bangladesh beat Afghanistan to win not just the cricket but their first gold medal in Asiad history.

When Feng Lanlan clinched the women’s 68kg karate title it pushed China’s total golds to 184, shattering their previous best at the Beijing Asiad in 1990, a tally no other country has reached since the Games began in 1951 Guangzhou had already become their most dominant in terms of total medals when they marched past the 341 set in 1990.

On the 14th and penultimate day of action, the hosts stretched their gold haul to 196 as they build-up to an assault on the United States at the London Olympics in 2012.

China wasn’t the only country celebrating with Bangladesh sneaking past Afghanistan by five wickets with just three balls to spare in a thrilling finale to the first-ever Asian Games cricket final.

Bangladesh restricted Afghanistan to 118-8 and endured some anxious moments before Mohammad Shabbir hit two huge sixes to guide his country to their first gold medal in the seven Asian Games they have attended.

“We are celebrating, but I hope Afghanistan will celebrate too because they deserve the silver medal,” said Bangladesh coach Imran Sarwar.

“They are a very good side and I am sure they will become a top team in the near future. Their rise has been remarkable.” Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six wickets for the bronze and promptly took a shot at arch-rivals India, who refused to send a team citing international obligations.

“India said they would come and they said cricket should be in the Asian Games. God knows why they are not here. Somebody should have put added pressure on them,” said Pakistan coach Sadiq Mohammad.

“India should have taken part in the Asian Games because this would have been a great opportunity for the young players to gain experience.”

Other title showdowns saw India win the men’s and women’s kabaddi golds while China’s women defeated Japan in the handball decider.

On the final day of athletics, Bahrain’s Ethiopian-born Mimi Gebregeiorges won the women’s 5,000m ahead of Indian pair Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut. “I just killed myself to win,” she said after adding the title to her 1,500m bronze.

Bahrain’s Bilisuma Shugi Gelassa, another Ethiopian, clinched the men’s 10,000m after a late burst of speed in the final 30m saw him pip Qatar’s Kenyan-born Essa Rashed at the line.

China won the men’s 4x100m relay and Thailand unexpectedly took the women’s title, while another Chinese, Li Yanxi, leapt furthest to win the men’s triple jump and Uzbekistan’s Svetlana Radzivil claimed high jump honours.

China’s world beating divers, meanwhile, completed a predictable clean-sweep of all 10 gold with world number one He Zi capping a hugely successful season by taking her first Asian Games title in the women’s 3m springboard.

“I’m not very satisfied, I didn’t dive well,” said He, despite ensuring China kept their 100 percent record in this event that has stretched back to Tehran in 1974.

The springboard was also notable for Cho Sut Ian taking bronze — the first diving medal ever won by former Portuguese colony Macau.

Rising star Cao Yuan capped their night by bagging the men’s 10m platform title to hand his country a perfect 10-out-of-10 for the eighth time at an Asian Games. — AFP