China’s Cui Chenxi celebrates after winning the skateboarding gold medal in the women’s street final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
HANGZHOU, China – She is the youngest member of the nearly 900-strong delegation from China at the Asian Games, and the 13-year-old skateboarder will now take home a gold medal.
She is also already thinking about playing a role in the Olympic Games in Paris next year.
Cui Chenxi, from Shandong province, defeated 18-year-old teammate Zeng Wenhui for gold in women’s street skateboarding on Wednesday. Miyu Ito, a 16-year-old Japanese skateboarder, took bronze.
Cui’s gold was one of several for the host nation on Day 4 of the two-week event in Hangzhou, where more than 12,000 competitors from 45 countries and territories in Asia competed in 481 events.
In women’s street skateboarding, each competitor did two runs and then five tricks, with the highest scoring run added to the two highest scoring tricks for the final result.
“My tactic was to be conservative on the first run, get some points on the scoreboard and then go for it on the second run,” Cui said.
The gamble paid off as she scored significantly higher on her second run. That, combined with her first two strokes, gave her the gold, even though she missed the last three strokes.
Looking ahead, Cui said she now has her sights set on the Olympics.
“First I will focus on achieving that goal, then I can launch a major attack,” she said.
Chinese skater Zhang Jie took gold in the men’s street final, while teammate Su Jianjun won bronze.
Indonesian competitor Sanggoe Darma Tanjung took silver and said the competition was extremely tough.
“I can’t believe I can get to this podium,” he said after getting his medal. “Everyone is good, great.”
The Filipina Margielyn Didal, who had been absent for a long time due to an injury, failed in her title defense.
CRICKET RECORDS
Nepal’s cricket team defeated Mongolia in a preliminary round match on Wednesday, setting multiple records en route to the 273-run victory.
Nepal’s batters dominated Mongolia’s bowlers, hitting 314-3 in what was the first time a team had scored more than 300 in the 20-overs format. Mongolia scored 41-10, and Nepal’s margin of victory also set a record, surpassing the Czech Republic’s 208-point victory against Panama in 2021.
Cricket was first included in the 2010 Asian Games and looks set to be on the Olympic program soon, likely at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 or the Brisbane Games in 2032.
The Indian women’s cricket team won gold by beating Sri Lanka on Monday.
In Nepal’s victory over Mongolia, Nepali batsman Dipendra Singh Airee needed just nine balls to hit a 50, breaking the previous record of twelve balls jointly held by Indian Yuvraj Singh and two others. He also set a record for the highest strike percentage, 520, with a strike of 52 off 10 balls.
Teammate Kushal Malla set another milestone by reaching a century in 34 balls, one short of the previous record.
Cricket powerhouses India and Pakistan are among the tournament favorites and could generate a huge television audience when they meet in the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games on October 7. However, that final could be overshadowed by the start of the cricket final. Cricket World Cup in India, which takes place from October 5 to November. 19.
TO SHOOT
Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra won two medals, winning gold in the women’s 50-metre rifle, a three-position competition and silver in the team version of the same event.
In the individual event, Zhang Qiongyue of China took silver and Ashi Chouksey of India took bronze.
Chouksey missed the silver in her very last shot.
Your subscription cannot be saved. Try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
In women’s clay pigeon shooting, Kazakhstan took gold, leaving China behind. Thailand won the bronze.
