ASIAN GAMES – The 20th Asian Games closed yesterday after a rocky fortnight lit up by youthful brilliance in the sporting arenas but tempered by logistical dysfunction and subdued public interest.
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani declared the Games closed at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, with the torch handed to organisers of the next event in Doha 2030.
Some 17,000 athletes and officials came for the Aichi-Nagoya showpiece, more than the Paris Olympics, competing in 469 gold-medal events spanning Tokyo to Osaka.
The massive scale clashed with organisers’ planning for a “simple, streamlined and functional event” – and the results were often chaotic.
Athletes and teams complained of bungled accommodation and transport, prompting repeated apologies from the embarrassed organising committee.
Despite the challenges, the Games were lifted by the performances of teenage titans, led by China’s 13-year-old swimmer Yu Zidi.
Awarded the female Most Valuable Player of the Games, Yu is on track for a huge Los Angeles Olympics after claiming three individual gold medals in the Tokyo pool.
She swam the second-fastest time in winning the 200 metres individual medley, setting up a battle royale with Canada’s world-record holder Summer McIntosh.
Her 19-year-old teammate Zhang Zhanshuo became the first swimmer to win seven golds at the Games, while Japan’s 17-year-old wunderkind Shin Ohashi smashed the 200m breaststroke world record.
Youthful brilliance lit up the athletics, with China’s 18-year-old Yan Ziyi producing a world-class throw to win the women’s javelin gold while 20-year-old Thai sprinter Puripol Boonson swept the 100m and 200m events to become the men’s MVP.
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