Japan dominate the pool in Incheon

Japan’s domination of the pool continued with four swimming gold medals at the Asian Games in Incheon on Monday.

Having claimed three of the golds on offer in Sunday’s action at the Munhak Park Tae-hwan Aquatics Centre, Japan once more enjoyed success in South Korea.

Kosuke Hagino had another day to remember after he took his gold-medal haul for the Games to three.

Just a day after winning the 200 metre freestyle title, Hagino was the victor in the 200m individual medley before being part of the team that won the 4x200m freestyle.

Junya Koga won the men’s 50m backstroke, while Kanako Watanabe was victorious in the women’s 200m breaststroke to round off Japan’s success. The other two gold medals on offer in the pool were claimed by China.

Hosts South Korea had reason to celebrate in judo as Jeong Gyeong-mi defended the under-78 kilogramme gold she won four years ago in Guangzhou by beating North Korea’s Sol Kyong in the Dowon Gymnasium.

Four other gold medals were on offer in judo, with Japan clinching two of those, while China’s Ma Sisi won the women’s over-78kg and Mongolia’s Naidangiin Tuvshinbayar was successful in the men’s under-100kg category.

China continued to enjoy a strong advantage of the top of the medals table after another successful day.

In the wushu Wang Di collected gold medals in the men’s Nanquan and Nangun, while Zhu Meng-Meng triumphed in the women’s Taijijian and Taijiquan.

There were further golds for China in the women’s team pursuit cycling, teams free routine in synchronised swimming and the women’s badminton team event.

China won gold in the women’s team gymnasts for the 11th consecutive time, while the nation also took two fencing golds.

The Chinese women’s 10m air rifle team had a world record withdrawn and later reinstated as they topped the podium.

The trio of Yi Siling, Zhang Binbin and Wu Liuxi combined for 1253.8 points to set the new benchmark at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range.

However, it was ruled Zhang was using unauthorised equipment in Incheon to render the world record invalid, before a judging committee overruled the decision – claiming the competitor “didn’t intend to break the rule”.

Zhang then had further cause for celebration when she triumphed in the individual women’s 25m pistol.

Iran claimed a one-two in the women’s 10m air rifle final, with Najmeh Khedmati taking gold ahead of countrywoman Narjes Emamgholinejad Andevari.

In the women’s 25m team pistol event, South Korea triumphed with a combined score of 1748 points.

China’s Olympic champion Lin Qingfeng who won the men’s 69kg in weightlifting, while North Korea’s Ri Jong-hwa topped the podium in the women’s 58kg.

In the sepak takraw doubles finals, Myanmar celebrated. gold in both the men’s and women’s events.

Group stage matches continued in baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, football, handball, hockey, cricket, water polo and volleyball.

In men’s squash India’s Ghosal Saurav and Kuwait’s Abdullah Almezayen will contest the final after winning their last-four matches, while the women’s showdown will pit Malaysian duo Nicol David and Low Wee Wern against one another.

There were five heats in rowing, while China reached the semi-finals in both the men’s and women’s tennis team events.