China wins 2 more gymnastics golds at Jakarta Asiad
Gold medalist Liu Tingting (C) of China shows medal with silver medalist Luo Huan of China (L) and bronze medalist Jon Jang Mi of the DPRK during the awarding ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Uneven Bars Final at the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Chinese gymnasts have brought the team's gold medal number at the 18th Asian Games to six as veteran Deng Shudi and new comer Liu Tingting won the championship in rings and uneven bars finals respectively here on Thursday.
Deng, 27, a bronze medallist of team event at Rio Olympics, outplayed Japan's Shogo Nonomura to take the gold with 14.750 points, while the Japanese won the silver with 14.625 points and Chen Chihyu from Chinese Taipei earned 14.600 points to grab the bronze.
On the ladies' side, Liu and her teammate Luo Huan wrapped up the gold and silver medals for China with 14.600 and 14.225 points. Jon Jang Mi from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed the bronze with 14.200 points.
Previously, China won four gold medals in men's and women's team and all-around events.
A historic moment for Chinese Taipei came when Lee Chihkai won its first ever gymnastics gold at the Asian Games from the pommel horse final.
The 22-year-old Lee, also the silver medallist of the event at the 2018 Doha World Cup in March, won the dream gold with an unscathed routine featured with highest difficulty and execution scores, namely 6.300 and 9.100. He earned 15.400 points in total, the personal best.
China's Zou Jingyuan and Sun Wei won the silver and bronze medals with 15.100 and 15.075 respectively.
"There's no word to express my feelings now. I have dreamed of the gold, but not a history maker," said Lee, emotionally at the mixed zone. "Last year, also on August 23, I won my first gold medal in pommel horse at the Universiade. I will never forget the date."
"I came on stage, knowing well I can do it, I'm all focused. And I made it," he said.
"My next goal is Tokyo (Olympics) apparently. I have one of the most difficult routines (on pommel horse). I have confidence and I will go all out for it," he added.
Thursday is also remarkable for South Korea with two golds medals from men's floor exercise and women's vault.
In men's floor exercise, Kim Han-sol took the first place with 14.675 points, followed by Tang Chiahung from Chinese Taipei with 14.425 points. China's all around gold medallist Lin Chaopan claimed the bronze with 14.225 points. It's also China's 3,000th medal at Asiad.
South Korea's rising star Yeo Seo-jeong, 16, earned 14.387 points in vault to beat legendary Oksana Chusovitina from Uzbekistan to claim the gold.
Despite missing out the championship and age differences with her much younger peers, Chusovitina proved her potentials to go further to Tokyo Olympics with a solid score of 14.287 points.
Pyon Rye Yong from the DPRK won the bronze with 13.875 points.
"The silver medal is a gold medal to me because I have been through a lot to be here," said Chusovitina with a stern face. "It's my love to the sports brought me here."
"Age is not a problem for me. If it was, it can only be a motivation," she said.
"I wanna go to Tokyo. that's for sure. It's my dream. I will compete for Uzbekistan, but I have to pass through the qualifications. So, one step a time," she added.