NAGOYA - China’s remarkable Asian Games dominance in diving reached 52 years on Wednesday as Chen Yiwen and Lian Junjie completed another clean sweep, while organisers apologised to athletes over a series of problems affecting the Nagoya Games. Chen and Lian won the final two diving gold medals to give China its 14th consecutive clean sweep in the sport. China has captured every Asian Games diving title since making its debut in the competition in 1974, extending one of the most remarkable unbeaten records in the Games’ history.
The latest success also helped China strengthen its position at the top of the overall medal table, with the country’s gold-medal tally reaching 150 with four days of competition remaining. Hosts Japan were second with 50 golds, followed by South Korea on 24.
Chen, a double Paris Olympic champion, said Chinese female divers were matching their male counterparts in both training and ambition. “Girls are every bit as capable as boys,” Chen said, adding that the team was continuing to challenge itself with increasingly difficult dives.
Meanwhile, Philippines tennis star Alexandra Eala advanced to the women’s singles semi-finals with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Taiwan’s Joanna Garland. The world number 18, a leading contender for gold, will next face China’s Wang Xiyu. The tournament winner will earn qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Eala said representing the Philippines at major multi-sport events remained a central part of her sporting ambitions.
In boxing, Taiwan’s Olympic champion Lin Yu-ting secured at least a silver medal after defeating Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova 5-0 in the women’s 60kg semi-final. Lin, who was at the centre of a major gender eligibility controversy during the Paris Olympics, is now one victory away from a second Asian Games gold.
In men’s football, South Korea reached the final with a 2-1 victory over China, scoring the decisive goal in the 82nd minute. They will meet Japan, who edged Uzbekistan 9-8 on penalties after their semi-final finished 1-1 following extra time. The Games have also faced organisational criticism. Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa apologised to athletes and officials following complaints involving accommodation and transportation. The Games have more than 17,000 athletes and officials, with participants staying in hotels, temporary wooden accommodation and a cruise ship rather than a traditional athletes’ village. On the golf course, South Korea’s Tom Kim overcame jet lag and limited sleep to card a three-under-par 67, while defending champion Taichi Kho recorded a hole-in-one during his opening round of 69.