13-year-old Yu Zidi sets Asian Games swimming record — Dawn
In Tokyo, Japan, 13-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi won Asian Games gold in the 200-meter butterfly and set a competition record of 2 minutes 5.08 seconds. This is the first major title of her career, Dawn reports.
The athlete will turn 14 next month. Last year, she became the youngest medalist in the history of the World Aquatics Championships when she won bronze in a relay at the age of 12.
China's dominance in the pool
On the first day of the competition program, Chinese athletes won six of the seven swimming titles contested that evening. Swimming events are being held in Tokyo, while the main part of the Asian Games is taking place in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.
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Japan's Takumi Hojo won the first gold medal of the 20th Asian Games. He prevailed in the men's individual triathlon, completing 750 meters of swimming, 20 kilometers of cycling and 5,000 meters of running in 52 minutes 56 seconds. Chinese triathlete Zhang Sirui finished nine seconds behind him.
Bad weather affected the program
Due to bad weather linked to the approaching Typhoon Dujuan, the Tokyo venue where equestrian competitions were due to take place was closed. Their start was postponed until Tuesday, one day later than originally scheduled.
Strong winds and downpours were forecast in Tokyo, while rainy weather was expected in Nagoya. Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al-Musallam said the typhoon threat was one of the reasons for the large number of empty seats at the opening ceremony in Nagoya.
