Big Olympics Medal Day for Asian Countries
August 14, 2008
Asian countries dominated the Olympics on Day Six of competition collecting thirteen total medals in one day, including seven golds.
Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima was the swimmer of the day, winning an unprecedented “double-double” in the breaststroke, adding the 200 meters gold to the 100 title he won on Monday. He won both in Athens in 2004.
Chinese gymnast Yang Wei ran away with the gold in gymnastics finishing with 94.575 points, nearly three points ahead of Kohei Uchimura of Japan in the men’s individual all-round event. Long recognized as perhaps the best gymnast in the world, Yang was denied the gold in Sydney and disappointed in Athens.
China is becoming the dominant force in world gymnastics. Yang has not lost a competition since 2006.
There was even redemption for Chinese shooter Du Li, who broke down in tears after failing to win the first gold of the Games on day one.
China even took an unexpected gold in women’s archery thanks to Zhang Juan Juan. That ended South Korea’s streak of winning every women’s Olympic archery gold medal since 1984.
Asian nations have won nearly half of the golds so far.
Mongolia took the first gold medal in its history when Tuvshinbayar Naidan won the 100kg judo, rolling his opponent over three times in a show of brute force.
China leads the overall medals’ table with 22 golds.
America follows on 10 golds — five of those thanks to swimmer Phelps and relay team mates — but will expect to come back strongly when track-and-field events start on Friday.
Germany are third with seven golds, followed by South Korea and Italy on six.
Replacing old Cold War rival Russia as America’s main challenger at the Olympics, China came second in Athens and is mounting a formidable challenge to go one better at home.
The world’s most populous nation has shown its new wealth, confidence and technological ability with a dazzling opening ceremony, record Games spending of $43 billion, some architecturally astonishing venues and meticulous organization.
China also scored a shock one-two in the pool.
Nineteen-year-old Liu Zige destroyed the world record in the women’s 200 butterfly and compatriot Jiao Liuyang relegated Australian world champion Jessica Schipper to third.
Thumping his chest and cupping his hands around his ears, he milked the crowd’s cheers even before the judges’ final scores were announced. His joy was magnified by past disappointments — taking silver in Sydney and missing out on a medal in Athens.
There was relief, too, for Chinese shooter Du, who steadied earlier nerves to win the women’s 50m rifle three positions. Du said she had nearly quit the sport after failing to win a medal on Saturday, when national hopes had weighed heavily.
Rainstorms washed away the Beijing smog but also caused delays in tennis, softball, canoeing and rowing. Beach volleyball players struggled on though, squelching through the sand.
*****Keeping up with Olympics:*****
2008 Beijing Olympics Meet Your Asian American Olympians!
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Asian Pacific American and Asian communities worldwide need to develop organizations, projects, network, and programs to encourage, recruit, teach, and retain new generations to participate in non-traditional careers or businesses such as professional sports, olympic, entertainments, comedies, media, oil, construction, and other fields not traditionally represented.
These are lucrative, rewarding, and career earns spotlight and connection to adopt countries. Create more images, integrations, and roots to wherever they live. I think we should need to rexam