On Saturday (Aug 25), athletes competed to win four gold medals of the athletics in the events of men`s marathon, women`s hammer throw, women`s 10,000 meters run and shot put event but none of the gold, silver and bronze medals went to Indonesia.
Therefore, it is expected that Indonesia would clinch a medal, hopefully gold, this evening, from Indonesia`s world 100-m sprinter champion Lalu Muhammad Zohri who will be fielded in two events of 100-m and 4x100 meter run.
Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri won a gold medal in the 100-meter men`s sprint in the U-20 World Athletic Championship in Finland on July 11, 2018. According to a press release from the national athletics association PB PASI, Zohri finished the race in 10.18 seconds.
Zohri, whose hometown is Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, beat two athletes from the United States -- Anthony Schwartz and Eric Harrison -- who finished in second and third place respectively at 10.22 seconds.
This evening (Aug 26). Zohri will be fielded in two run events. PB PASI Secretary General Tigor Tanjung said earlier the two numbers in which Zohri will vie for the medals were 100 meters run and 4X100 meters run. "Zohri is not burdened with a target for the 100-m run, whereas for the 4 x 100 meter run, we hope there will be a surprise," he said.
For the men`s 100 meter run category, in addition to Zohri there is still Yaspi Boby who will go down at this Asian Games. Zohri had the best time record of 10.18 seconds when he became world champion while Boby had the best time record of 10.36 seconds.
Meanwhile, Indonesian coach Nicolaas Pattiyasina said, indeed Zohri was not burdened with targets for the 100 meter run category. "But if Zohri is able to reach the final round, chances are there to get a medal," said the coach for mid-range run categories.
For the men`s 100 meter race, it was divided into several heat starting on Saturday (Aug. 25) while the final round will be competed on Sunday (Aug 26) night at around 21:25 local time for the men`s event and 21.10 local time for women`s categories.
He added, in the 4x100 meter men`s run, Indonesia`s chances of winning a medal are there because the men`s relay team has been able to penetrate 38 seconds.
In the 2018 Asian Games athletic branch, Indonesia fields 58 athletes. They will compete in 42 events of the 48 branches competed at this Asian Games.
The athletic sports started to be competed on Saturday (Aug 25) with the men`s marathon event. On this first day, four gold medals were contested, namely in the men`s marathon, women`s hammer throw, women`s 10,000 meters run and shot put events.
The gold medals on the first day of athletics events of Asian Games 2018 on Saturday were distributed equally among four countries, namely Japan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and India.
Japan won the gold medal from men`s marathon, through Inoue Hirota, who clocked 2.18.22; the silver medal went to Elabbassi Elhassan from Bahrain, who completed in 2.18.22; and the bronze medal to Duo Bujie from China, who finished in 2.18.48.
China won the gold medal from women`s hammer throw, through Luo Na, reaching 71.42 meters. The silver medal went to her fellow country athlete Wang Zheng, reaching 70.86 meters, and the bronze to Katsuyama Hitmi from Japan, with a throw of 62.95 meters.
Kyrgyzstan won the gold medal from women`s 10,000 meters run, through Daria Maslve, who finished in 32.07.23; the silver medal went to Eunica Chumba from Bahrain, who completed the race in 32.11.12; and the bronze to Zhang Deshun from China, completing in 32.12.78.
India won the gold medal from the shot put event, through Tajinderpal Singh Toor, throwing 20.75 meters to break the Asian Games record held by Ap-Hebshi Dultan Abdukmajeed from Kazakhstan (20.57 meters). The silver medal went to Liu Yang from China (19.52 meters), and the bronze went to Ivan Ivanov from Kazakhstan (19.40 meters)
Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games for the second time this year, after Jakarta was selected as the venue for the Asian sporting event in 1962.
This year, Jakarta and Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra Province, are co-hosting the games from Aug 18 to Sept 2.
By virtue of its hosting the 2018 games, the country aims to secure a place among the top 10 largest sporting events.
At this world`s second biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, around 15 thousand athletes from 45 countries will compete in 462 events across 40 sports, of which 32 are Olympic sports.
The Olympic sports are Aquatics, Athletics, Fencing, Weightlifting, Basketball, Handball, Badminton, Baseball/Softball, Cycling, Equestrian, Golf, Wrestling, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Canoeing and Kayaking, Sailing, Shooting, Modern Pentathlon, Archery, Sport Climbing, Rowing, Rugby, Gymnastics, Roller Skating, Football, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Boxing, Triathlon, and Volleyball.
The non-Olympic sports are Bowling; Bridge; Cricket; Kabaddi; Martial Arts, including Jujitsu, Kurash, Pencak Silat, Sambo, and Wushu; Mechanical Sports, such as Paragliding and Jet Skiing; Squash; and Sepak Takraw.
Indonesia`s target is to make it to the top 10 by winning a minimum of 16 gold medals.
Until Saturday, Aug 25 (ANTARA News) Indonesia had won 10 gold medals, two from paragliding, one from rowing, one from speed climbing, one from weightlifting, two from cycling, one from wushu, one from taekwondo, and one from tennis.
Editing by Suharto
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
