China dominates opening day of Asian Games with 20 gold medals
September 26, 2023
China dominated at the Asian Games, winning 20 gold medals and a total of 30 medals on the first day of the 2023 edition.
China’s lead: The games began with an opening ceremony attended by President Xi Jinping and watched by 80,000 spectators at Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Sunday. China’s first gold medal was secured by Zhou Jiaqi and Qiu Xinping in women’s lightweight double sculls, setting the tone for their impressive medal haul.
Swimmer Qin Haiyang received the loudest cheers of the evening during the men’s 100m breaststroke event. According to the Olympics, Qin made an incredible start with a split time of 26.69 over the first length and ultimately won the race in 57.79 seconds, setting a new Asian Games record in the process.
China won gold in modern pentathlon (2), artistic gymnastics (1), rowing (6), shooting (2), wushu (2) and swimming (7), according to the Associated Press.
Gold medals: Other countries that earned gold medals on the first day included Hong Kong in men’s pairs rowing and men’s individual foil fencing. South Korean and Japanese athletes also performed well, with South Korea winning five gold medals and Japan earning two gold medals and 14 medals overall.
Sporting powerhouse: China’s dominance in the Asian Games is expected to continue. The nation’s strong performance in the games reinforces its position as a regional sporting powerhouse.
The Asian Games, which feature a diverse range of sports, include 12,500 participants from 45 nations and territories. The men’s cricket final is anticipated to be a showdown between rivals Pakistan and India on Oct. 7.
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