China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi dazzles at Asian Games, Japan claims opening gold

The 20th Asian Games commenced in Nagoya with Japan securing the first gold medal through Takumi Hojo's win in the men's individual triathlon.

The Games, featuring over 11,000 athletes competing in more than 40 sports, have faced logistical challenges due to the absence of a traditional athletes' village and recent weather disruptions.

Notably, China's 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi impressed in the 200m butterfly heats, marking the beginning of intense sporting competition until October 4.

Despite organizational hurdles, such as transportation issues and substandard accommodations, the event offers 2028 Olympics qualification opportunities.

NAGOYA, Sept 20 — The first gold medal of the 20th Asian Games was won today by host nation Japan as a 13-year-old swimmer from China started in blistering form on the opening day of the multisports extravaganza.

Japan’s Takumi Hojo won the men’s individual triathlon in Gamagori city near Nagoya with China’s Zhang Xirui second and Kazakhstan’s Arlan Zhanabay taking bronze.

It was the first of 469 gold medals to be awarded at a two-week spectacle that has more athletes than the Olympics.

Action also began in the swimming pool, where Yu Zidi, who does not turn 14 until next month, was fastest by far in the women’s 200m butterfly heats.

Teenager Yu was almost 2.70 seconds quicker than compatriot Chang Mohan and will be a hot favourite to take her first major gold in today evening’s final.

The Games were officially declared open yesterday by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito but there were a large number of empty seats at the 30,000-capacity stadium in Nagoya.

It sounded the starting pistol on two weeks of intense action as the continent’s finest athletes compete in more than 40 sports before the curtain comes down on October 4.

The event in Nagoya and Aichi prefecture has 2028 Olympics places up for grabs but has been dogged by a series of problems in the build-up.

Accommodating the more than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials has stretched organisers to the limit after they decided not to have a traditional athletes’ village to save money.

Competitors instead are staying in a combination of temporary container-style huts, hotels and cruise ship the Costa Serena.

There was a record deluge last week which flooded parts of Nagoya and a typhoon is due to skirt the area today night threatening further disruption.

Some athletes were left stranded at the airport when transport failed to turn up and several teams have complained about the quality of the huts, including the beds being too short.

And Games organisers were forced to offer “deepest apologies” after North Korea’s national anthem was played on Friday for South Korea’s men’s hockey team before a preliminary match.

Triathlete Hojo finished the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5,000m run in 52min 56sec, nine seconds clear of Zhang with Zhanabay a further six seconds behind in third.

“As it’s our first gold medal, it’s given the Japanese team a real boost,” said the 30-year-old Hojo, whose win will qualify him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I was really fired-up. Even the rain held off, and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line,” added Hojo, who also won the Asian Games test triathlon a year ago on the same course.

“(I knew) it’d be tough, but (I thought) I’ll push myself, and if it works, I think it’ll be a good race.”

As always at the Asian Games — which started in 1951 — Olympic staples such as athletics and swimming will sit side-by-side with regional favourites like sepak takraw and kabaddi.

There will be eSports, breakdancing and BMX cycling. Padel and MMA will make their Asian Games debuts. — AFP

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第20届亚运会在名古屋开幕，日本选手北条匠在男子个人铁人三项比赛中夺得金牌，为日本赢得了第一枚金牌。

本届奥运会共有超过 11,000 名运动员参加 40 多个体育项目的比赛，由于没有传统的运动员村以及最近的天气干扰，面临着后勤方面的挑战。

值得注意的是，中国13岁的游泳运动员于子迪在200米蝶泳预赛中表现出色，这标志着激烈的体育赛事正式开始，比赛将持续到10月4日。

尽管存在交通问题和住宿条件差等组织方面的困难，但该赛事提供了 2028 年奥运会的参赛资格机会。

名古屋，9月20日——东道主日本今天赢得了第20届亚运会的首枚金牌，一名来自中国的13岁游泳运动员在这项综合性运动盛会的开幕日就展现出了惊人的状态。

日本选手北条匠在名古屋附近的蒲郡市举行的男子个人铁人三项比赛中夺冠，中国选手张锡睿获得亚军，哈萨克斯坦选手阿尔兰·扎纳拜获得铜牌。

这是为期两周的体育盛会上颁发的 469 枚金牌中的第一枚，参赛运动员人数比奥运会还多。

比赛也在游泳池举行，下个月才满 14 岁的余子迪在女子 200 米蝶泳预赛中遥遥领先，成绩最快。

青少年选手余比同胞张默涵快了近2.70秒，她将成为今晚决赛中夺得首枚大赛金牌的热门人选。

昨天，日本天皇德仁正式宣布奥运会开幕，但在名古屋这座可容纳 3 万人的体育场内，却有很多空位。

这标志着为期两周的激烈角逐正式拉开帷幕，来自非洲大陆最优秀的运动员将在 40 多个体育项目中展开较量，最终于 10 月 4 日落下帷幕。

名古屋和爱知县的这项赛事将决出 2028 年奥运会的参赛名额，但在筹备过程中却遭遇了一系列问题。

由于主办方决定不建造传统的运动员村以节省开支，因此安置 11000 多名运动员和 6000 名官员的工作量已经让组织者不堪重负。

竞争对手则选择住在临时集装箱式小屋、酒店和歌诗达塞雷纳号游轮上。

上周名古屋部分地区遭遇创纪录的暴雨，被洪水淹没；今晚台风预计将掠过该地区，可能造成进一步破坏。

由于交通工具未能按时到达，一些运动员被困在机场；还有几支队伍抱怨营地小屋的质量，包括床太短。

在周五韩国男子曲棍球队参加预赛前奏响朝鲜国歌后，奥运会组织者被迫表示“最深切的歉意”。

铁人三项运动员Hojo以52分56秒的成绩完成了750米游泳、20公里自行车骑行和5000米跑步，领先张9秒，而Zhanabay落后6秒获得第三名。

“这是我们的第一枚金牌，这极大地鼓舞了日本队，”30岁的北条说道，他的胜利将使他获得2028年洛杉矶奥运会的参赛资格。

“我当时真的斗志昂扬。甚至连雨都没下，直到站在起跑线上，我的状态都非常好，”北条补充道。一年前，北条也在同一赛道上赢得了亚运会测试赛铁人三项的冠军。

“（我知道）这会很艰难，但（我想）我会努力拼搏，如果成功了，我想这将是一场精彩的比赛。”

与以往一样，自 1951 年亚运会创办以来，田径、游泳等奥运会传统项目将与藤球、卡巴迪等地区性热门项目并肩亮相。

电子竞技、霹雳舞和BMX自行车将是本次亚运会的比赛项目。板式网球和综合格斗将首次亮相亚运会。——法新社

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