Event of the Day: The Asian Games Day 11
Our event of the day is day eleven of the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia. The multi-sport event has been taking Asia by storm in what has been a sensational opening ten days of action. China lead the medal table by a significant margin. They have currently won 206 medals, including 97 gold medals. Fifty of their 206 medals have come in the pool, where China have been impressive along with Japan. Japan sit second with 142 medals, 43 of which are gold. The Republic of Korea complete the top three with 32 golds, whilst hosts Indonesia are fourth, boasting 24 gold medals. Today’s action will see 36 gold medals contested across an assortment of sports. Artistic swimming, athletics, track cycling, diving, judo, kurash, paragliding, pencak silat, skateboarding and soft tennis all feature finals.
Highlights from the athletics schedule today includes the men’s and women’s 200 metre final and the final of the women’s high jump. The evening session is rounded off with the final event of the heptathlon: the 800 metres. In the diving, double Olympic champion Chen Aisen is in action in the 10-metre synchronised platform with partner Yang Hao, who himself is a double world champion. Eight finals are on display in pencak silat, a form of martial arts which has its roots in Southern Asia. In the men’s F Class, five-time South East Asian Games medallist Mohd Fauzi Khalid of Malaysia takes on World Champion Dihn Nam Tran of Vietnam. Meanwhile in the women’s D Class, world bronze medallist Pipiet Kamelia from Indonesia faces world silver medallist Thi Cam Nhi Nguyen from Vietnam. The sheer volume of medals up for grabs guarantees it will be another hugely exciting day.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to day one of the County Championship fixture between Surrey and Nottinghamshire at the Oval in London. With the hosts currently top of Division One and Nottinghamshire just behind in third, a tight match is forecast. Elsewhere in the UK, the second round of the Caraboa Cup continues, with potential for an upset at the City Ground as Nottingham Forest host Premier League Newcastle. In the Champions League, the winner of second leg playoff between PAOK Salonika and Benfica will progress to the group stages, with the score finely poised at 1-1. MLS action comes from the Avaya Stadium, with top of the table FC Dallas away to San Jose Earthquakes, who are languishing at the bottom of the league. At Fenway Park, the MLB series between the Boston Red Sox and the Miami Marlins concludes. Further sporting action in the States comes from New York, where world class tennis is on display at the US Open. Stage four of the Vuelta a España gets underway in Granada.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Asian Games 2018