asian indoor games
qQatar’s Samuel Francis, who set the Asian record for the 100m (9.99 secs) when winning the Asian outdoor sprint title this summer (26 July), outclassed a strong field indoors today to take the 60m dash gold on the first day of the 2nd Asian Indoor Games (30 Oct).
Francis, a 20-year-old former Nigerian, started his inaugural indoor race campaign clocking 6.65 seconds to take second place in his qualifying heat this morning behind Saudi Arabia’s 2003 World Youth 100m champion Yahya Al-Gahes (6.61). Francis then took the victory in the first semi-final of the day in 6.55 seconds.
In the final, Francis who was running in lane six, was the first to react to the gun with Al-Gahes, in lane four trying hard to level with him. Francis retained his margin to the line setting a new Games' record of 6.54. The 21-year-old Al-Gahes closed out in 6.56, while Thailand’s Wachara Sondee took the bronze in 6.65.
To put Francis’ run into context he was not far off the continental indoor record of 6.51, a mark which was set by fellow Qatari Talal Mansoor in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1993.
In the only men’s field event to be concluded on the first day, Liu Feiliang produced 5.30m in the Pole Vault to secure gold for China equalling the Games' record. Feiliang, the World Junior bronze medallist in 2004, who has 5.60m personal best indoors, significantly is the national outdoor record holder thanks to his 5.71m in Guangzhou on 20 July this summer
Francis, a 20-year-old former Nigerian, started his inaugural indoor race campaign clocking 6.65 seconds to take second place in his qualifying heat this morning behind Saudi Arabia’s 2003 World Youth 100m champion Yahya Al-Gahes (6.61). Francis then took the victory in the first semi-final of the day in 6.55 seconds.
In the final, Francis who was running in lane six, was the first to react to the gun with Al-Gahes, in lane four trying hard to level with him. Francis retained his margin to the line setting a new Games' record of 6.54. The 21-year-old Al-Gahes closed out in 6.56, while Thailand’s Wachara Sondee took the bronze in 6.65.
To put Francis’ run into context he was not far off the continental indoor record of 6.51, a mark which was set by fellow Qatari Talal Mansoor in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1993.
In the only men’s field event to be concluded on the first day, Liu Feiliang produced 5.30m in the Pole Vault to secure gold for China equalling the Games' record. Feiliang, the World Junior bronze medallist in 2004, who has 5.60m personal best indoors, significantly is the national outdoor record holder thanks to his 5.71m in Guangzhou on 20 July this summer
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