Thursday, September 6, 2018 DAILY HONG KONG EDITION

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Left: Zhao Shuai (left) wins the silver medal in the men’s taekwondo 63­kilogram category at the in . Above: Swimmer won all four freestyle golds. Right: Sprinter Bingtian takes gold in the men’s 100­meter final. PHOTOS BY WANG JING / Nation shifts

By SHI FUTIAN in Jakarta sports traditionally dominated focus to Jakarta Games served as a key According to the delegation, [email protected] globally by Asian countries, platform for China’s young ath­ the first is that many of its young such as table , badmin­ letes to gain experience. The athletes are still short of experi­ Despite striking gold in a big ton, gymnastics and diving, Chi­ best example is the table tennis ence and need to gain it in the way at the 2018 Asian Games, na won 28 golds, an indication squad, which swept the five next two years. China’s sports delegation is of the country’s Olympic com­ golds on offer. Changes to the rules and the keeping a cool head as it faces petitiveness. Olympics However, none of the 10 Chi­ inclusion of new sports and dis­ challenges in repeating this suc­ For example, the diving team nese players in Jakarta had ciplines present another chal­ cess at the 2020 Tokyo Olym­ swept all 10 golds in Jakarta played at the lenge. Lastly, China’s traditional pics. along with six silvers. and only three had Asian Games dominance in events such as Memories from the Asian won two golds Challenges emerge after Asian Games success experience. table tennis, gymnastics, bad­ Games, which ended in Jakarta in the women’s 3­meter spring­ Ma Long, Xu Xin and Ding minton and is being on Sunday, will linger for a long board and 3­meter synchro­ Ning, who all have multiple challenged by other global time. nized springboard with Chang world and Olympic titles, were sporting powerhouses. They include the smiling face Yani. “I completed a golden all absent in Jakarta in order to Take swimming for example. of basketball icon Yao Ming aft­ grand slam from the Asian give the young players the Although spearhead by super­ er China won both the men’s Games, World Championships, chance to show their ability. star Sun Yang, Chinese swim­ and women’s basketball tourna­ World Cup and Olympic China’s world No 1 players mers pocketed 19 golds and 50 ments and the tears shed by star Games,” said the two­time 21­year­old Fan Zhendong medals overall in Jakarta, facing swimmer Sun Yang after he Olympic gold medalist and bagged the men’s singles gold huge pressure from Japan, won all four freestyle disci­ multiple world champion, who and 23­year­old Zhu Yuling which won 19 golds but 52 med­ plines. has just turned 27. helped to secure the women’s als overall. However, those who shone in “I always want to do my best. team gold. But other young Multiple world and Olympic Jakarta, which was considered The gold medal was a perfect stars, such as 19­year­old Wang champion Sun couldn’t help a dress rehearsal for Tokyo, birthday gift for me and a great Manyu, who won the women’s shedding a tear after winning know there is much to be done boost to keep fighting.” singles gold, also proved their his fourth gold of the Asiad, but in the next two years. China has bagged all 80 div­ worth. this also served as a reminder Although bagging a total of ing golds on offer at the 12 Asian Wang said: “I achieved my that he has now turned 26, and 289 medals, including 132 golds, Games since 1974, but that does goal at the Asian Games. Given I his appearance at Tokyo could to top the Asian Games tally for not mean there are no challen­ won the gold, I guess I will be be his last at an Olympics. the 10th consecutive time since ges. thrilled in the short­term, but It is clear that China is in des­ 1982, China must address con­ Zhou Jihong, manager of the there are more challenges and perate need of a new generation cerns ahead of the Olympics. diving team, said: “In terms of competitions waiting for me. of swimming talent. These include its main the final result, we are satisfied. “The gold in Jakarta will not New stars, including world regional rival Japan catching up However, many of our strong change my determination. ... My champion backstroker , strongly in key sports such as opponents are from Europe and ambition is the Tokyo Olym­ 23, who won five golds in Jakar­ swimming, badminton and ath­ the United States. We still have a pics.” ta, 16­year­old Wangjian Jiahe, letics. lot of work to do.” who pocketed four golds, and Li Liu Guoyong, secretary­gen­ China defeats Japan 86­74 in the women’s basketball semi­finals in Jakarta. More opportunities Bingjie, who grabbed two to eral of the Chinese delegation, Reforms pay off The gold medal­winning Chi­ dominate the long­distance which comprised 845 athletes, China has introduced nese women’s volleyball team women’s freestyle, are gradually said the success in Jakarta had reforms aimed at guaranteeing Zhou Qi, China’s only player to university lecturer, a student to give the Chinese a better also focused on developing leading the charge. boosted confidence but does a brighter future for its athletes, appear in the NBA in the US last and an office worker. chance not only in Jakarta but young players. However, Japan also has new not necessarily mean it will be and the Jakarta Games were season, was sent to Jakarta, Their transformation from also in Tokyo against the tradi­ Although the team boasts talent, including 18­year­old repeated in Tokyo. considered a stage to show the while Team Blue, which boasted grassroots basketball­loving tionally powerful US team. global megastar spiker Zhu Rikako Ikee, who won six golds “The Asian Games can serve results. Some of the reforms former NBA player Yi Jianlian, enthusiasts to national heroes Qiao coached US Olympic Ting, legendary coach Lang and eight medals overall in Jak­ as a mid­term exam for us in have clearly paid off. stayed at home. started with Yao’s innovative champions Shawn Johnson Ping tried her best to give the arta to become the only woman building up to the Tokyo Olym­ The country’s gold medal­ “The purpose was to help us system — a national 3x3 tourna­ (2008, balance beam) and Gab­ young players more opportuni­ in any sport to win more than pics,” Liu said. “The Games can winning basketball teams are find more talent,” Yao said. “The ment open to both amateurs by Douglas (2012, all­around). ties. five medals at a single Asian allow young athletes to get a feel one of the most exciting exam­ two head coaches of the red and and professionals. “We have to discover the Young spiker Li Yingying, 18, Games. for major international sport­ ples. blue teams helped us find five to “Through the new national potential of every athlete,” Qiao was excited about the gold and Sun said: “The competition ing events.” Compared with just one six new talented players.” tournament, many young ath­ said. “The Asian Games is just a said she had learned a lot from between China and Japan is not Although China won 151 women’s basketball silver at the While the men’s team pocket­ letes will have the chance to test. The world championships the Games. “After so many over. ... We must learn the les­ golds and 345 medals overall at , China ed the gold, the women’s squad compete in the Olympics,” Yao and Tokyo Olympics are our matches here, I feel that I now sons and avoid the mistakes the 2014 Asiad in , bagged all four golds in the also returned to the top. Under said. “This is the new start for main goals.” have better control of the ball,” from these Games.” , the performances men’s and women’s basketball Yao’s reforms, the women’s Chinese basketball. By estab­ More important, 50­year­old she said. In Tokyo in 2020, China will in Jakarta were in no way inferi­ events and the new 3x3 compe­ team recruited new star players, lishing this system early, we can Qiao wants his gymnasts to be As captain, Zhu was also hap­ not only face highly competitive or to those at previous Asian tition in Jakarta, a result of the giving the squad the momen­ achieve better results in the happy. py. “We are improving in some Japanese men’s and women’s Games. reforms introduced by Yao tum to again dominate the Asi­ future.” “A healthy mentality starts areas that had previously been squads roared on by home The Chinese delegation told Ming, the Chinese Basketball ad. from training,” he said. “It’s our weak points. Our young crowds but also other strong that the Association chairman. China’s surprise clean sweep Change of ideas important for coaches and team players are also doing better and swimming nations from around event schedule for Jakarta was To guarantee the men’s team of the golds in the new 3x3 event Another example is the artis­ leaders to create a happy atmos­ better,” she said. the world. different to the 2014 Games, would improve on fifth place at also owed much to Yao. tic gymnastics team, whose phere for our athletes.” For Lang, Jakarta marked the The country is now busy pre­ with dozens of new disciplines the Incheon Games, eight­time While members of the wom­ change of training ideas helped Team manager Ye Zhennan 40th anniversary of her first paring for the Tokyo Games, added that Chinese athletes National Basketball Association en’s 3x3 team were all from the China win eight golds, five sil­ said: “Overtraining and injuries appearance as a volleyball play­ and despite the success were not familiar with. Also, the All­Star Yao, who was elected to Women’s Chinese Basketball vers and five bronzes, making it are not welcome here. We are er at the Asian Games in Bang­ achieved in Jakarta, there is absence of the country’s weight­ his new position last year, split Association League, the men’s the biggest medal winner at the trying to set an example for the kok, where she and the team clearly still a lot of hard work to lifting team in Jakarta resulted the team into Team Red and team had a grassroots lineup. Games in Jakarta. nation’s other gymnasts, ath­ won silver. be done. in fewer medals. Team Blue. With just one player having pro­ New women’s team head letes and coaches.” Despite the achievements in Of the 132 golds won in Jakar­ Team Red, which included fessional experience, three oth­ coach Qiao Liang placed the It is important to have a con­ Jakarta, many challenges await Sun Xiaochen contributed to ta, 95 were in . In young stars spearheaded by er team members were a emphasis on strength training stant flow of new talent, so the Chinese athletes in Tokyo. this story. ’s high­tech presentation paves the way for ‘smart’ Games in 2022

By SHI FUTIAN in Jakarta “We assure you we will meet nese history and culture, and gence control system, they there are many more in the The are He said the Olympic Council the highest possible standards highlighted Hangzhou’s tech­ could move and respond to dif­ country. I believe that they will being promoted as a “green, of wanted the event to run Hangzhou, the capital of in staging a special edition of nological achievements, serv­ ferent content, which we call together help present to the smart, economical and ethical” smoothly and on time but province, is already the Asian Games with Chinese ing as a reminder that “smart” ‘dancing robots’.” world a smart Asian Games in event, so apart from the could not allow the organizers looking forward to staging the grandeur, Asian style and a will be a keyword at the 2022 The screens are just a small Hangzhou. “smart” approach, making the to spend too much money, so Asian Games in 2022. Hangzhou flavor,” Xu Jianfeng, Games. part of the technological “First of all, a smart Asiad Games as green and economi­ this meant using existing The city will be the third in deputy director of internation­ Five high­tech screens that achievements seen in means we have to use our tech cal as possible is also a main venues. China to host the showpiece al relations with the Hangzhou can rotate 360 degrees were Hangzhou. advantages to create a much concern for organizers. “To stage a successful major event, which is held every four organizing committee, said at used for the presentation. The city is home to many of fairer competitive environ­ The total cost of staging the sports event, it’s important to years, after in 1990 and the 37th Olympic Council of Chen Yan, the chief artistic China’s technology companies, ment for the athletes. Second, Games in Jakarta was estimat­ have government help, a great , the capital of Asia General Assembly in Jak­ designer, said it was the first including Alibaba, whose we have to provide a more con­ ed at $3.2 billion. The work market and support from all province, in 2010. arta. time the high­tech screens had cofounder and executive chair­ venient Games for everyone.” involved renovating most aspects of society,” Wei said. The Hangzhou Asian Games An eight­minute presenta­ been used for such a display, man, Jack Ma, appeared dur­ Wei said it had been pro­ venues, including the Gelora Speaking of major forth­ Organizing Committee has tion during the closing ceremo­ which had surprised audiences ing the presentation in Jakarta posed that a single card be used Bung Karno Main Stadium, coming events, including the promised an event of the “high­ ny on Sunday in Gelora Bung in the stadium and around the and sent a warm welcome to at the Games in Hangzhou, which first opened in 1962. Hangzhou Games, he suggest­ est possible standards”, and Karno Main Stadium in Jakar­ world. fans around the world. providing ID confirmation, Wei said, “It was a very diffi­ ed that preparation work sent delegations comprising ta provided a glimpse of what “The screens were the height hon­ hotel room access, and even to cult problem, because Indone­ should take into account a nearly 260 members to Jakarta sports fans can expect in of a five­story building and orary life vice­president Wei cover expenses. “There are sia took over hosting the Asian city’s development footprint, to learn from and observe the Hangzhou. their general structure was like Jizhong, from China, said, many new things that are even Games in 2014, but until 2016 and past experiences and Games there, which ended on The presentation featured all that of a huge industrial robot. “Hangzhou is famous for its beyond my imagination that much of the work had not been venues that have already been Sunday. the elements of ancient Chi­ Through a new artificial intelli­ high­tech companies, and could surprise us all,” he said. done.” built.