Hangzhou
He Jie created history by becoming the first Chinese athlete to secure a gold medal in the men’s marathon at the Asian Games. The event took place on the picturesque Qiantang River Green Belt course, and He Jie’s victory marked a significant milestone for Chinese athletics. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 2 seconds, narrowly edging out Han Ilryong of North Korea by just 25 seconds.
In the women’s marathon, Bahrain’s Eunice Chebichii Paul Chumba continued her country’s dominance in the event, becoming the third consecutive Bahraini athlete to secure gold in the women’s marathon at the Asian Games. Chumba delivered an impressive performance, finishing in 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 14 seconds, securing a comfortable lead of 1 minute and 41 seconds over China’s Zhang Deshun, who claimed the silver medal.
Zhang, a former women’s 10,000m bronze medalist, transitioned to marathon running and was proud of her achievement in the new discipline, viewing it as an affirmation of her hard work and dedication.
The marathon events marked the conclusion of the athletics program at the Hangzhou Asian Games. India had a commendable performance in athletics, concluding the games with a total of 29 medals, including 6 gold, 14 silver, and 9 bronze medals. These achievements highlight the growth and development of athletics in the region, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of athletes to aspire to.
