China Make Golden Start on 1st Day of Asian Games

Gold medallists China's Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping pose for a photo during a medal ceremony after the women's light-weight double sculls final event of rowing during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 24, 2023. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)
Gold medallists China's Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping pose for a photo during a medal ceremony after the women's light-weight double sculls final event of rowing during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 24, 2023. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)
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China Make Golden Start on 1st Day of Asian Games

Gold medallists China's Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping pose for a photo during a medal ceremony after the women's light-weight double sculls final event of rowing during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 24, 2023. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)
Gold medallists China's Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping pose for a photo during a medal ceremony after the women's light-weight double sculls final event of rowing during the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 24, 2023. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE / AFP)

Hosts China swept the first gold medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday in a statement of intent on day one of the region's answer to the Olympics.

China claimed the first gold when Zou Jiaqi and Qiu Xiuping dominated the women's lightweight double sculls rowing to kick off a medal rush for the home nation.

The Chinese pair finished in 7min 6.78sec, with Uzbekistan's Luizakhon Islamova and Malika Tagmativa taking silver -- almost 10 seconds behind.

Indonesia's Chelsea Corputty and Rahma Mutiara Putri won bronze.

The hosts soon doubled up on the rowing lake as the men's lightweight double sculls gold was won by Fan Junjie and Sun Man, who finished five seconds clear of India's Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh.

China won six of the seven golds at the Fuyang Water Sports Centre rowing venue on Sunday morning with only Hong Kong's Lam San-tung and Wong Wai-chun getting in on the party by winning the men's pairs.

China's shooters also claimed the women's 10m team air rifle.

The hosts' rip-roaring start to the 19th Asian Games, which end on October 8, continued as Sun Peiyuan won the first martial arts gold.

Sun successfully defended his men's changquan wushu title from 2018, ahead of Indonesia's Edgar Xavier Marvelo with Macau's Song Chi-kuan third.



Madinah Equestrian Field Announces Women's Racing Round

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Madinah Equestrian Field Announces Women's Racing Round

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

The equestrian field in Madinah has announced a dedicated round for women riders as part of its 2024 horse racing program. The event will be held on Friday, January 3.
Women riders interested in participating are encouraged to register their data through the Madinah equestrian field's website before December 31, SPA reported.

Participants should familiarize themselves with the safety conditions and guidelines outlined for the race.
The competition will feature 10 selected women riders competing in a 600-meter race on the horse racing track, located 60 km east of Madinah.