Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japan has exceeded its target of getting 30 gold medals to 75 gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang with a total of 205 medals from various sports.

"This time we win 75 gold medals, with a total of 205 medals. This achievement is far better than what we expected before," Japan`s Olympic Committee (JOC), Chief de Mission Yasuhiro Yamashita said at a press conference at the Jakarta Convention Center, here on Sunday.

According to Yamashita, the highest appreciation was mainly conveyed to the Japanese swimming team who won the most medals with 19 gold, 20 silver and 13 bronze medals.

"I want to praise the swimming team who has made momentum. They have all competed with strong motivation to challenge themselves and did their best," he said.

In addition to contributing the most medals to the Japanese contingent, swimmer Rikako Ikee has also been named by the Asian Olympic Council (OCA) as the Most Valuable Player or the best player in the 2018 Asian Games.

Ikee won six gold medals for 50 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle, 50 m butterfly style, 100 m butterfly style, 4 x 100 m free style relay, and 4 x 100 m medley relay.

Besides swimming, Yamashita also underlined the achievements of badminton athletes who won one gold medal in women`s team class and became the first best performance after 48 years.

Yamashita also expressed his pride for men`s and women`s fencing team and men`s and women`s hockey team who also won the first gold medal for Japan.

"We are targeting one gold medal in every sport and additional medals from softball, sport climbing, skateboarding and karate at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics," he said.

According to Yamashita, Japan will use the results of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang to analyze deficiencies and evaluate the potentials of athletes to face the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

(KR-LWA)
Edited by Suharto

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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