JAKARTA – We're diving into the essential facts and figures for the medal competitions taking place this Friday, August 24.
JAKARTA – The Facts & Figures for selected medal events which will be held on Friday 24 August.
JAKARTA – Here is a detailed look at the key statistics and storylines for the medal events happening on Friday, August 24. In the pool, Rikako IKEE (JPN) is chasing a historic eighth medal, which would make her the first woman to achieve such a feat at a single Asian Games. She would then share this rare distinction with SO Gin Man (PRK), who earned eight shooting medals back in 1982. IKEE also has the chance to become the first woman to win six gold medals in one Games, while SO remains the gold standard with seven golds in 1982. In Artistic Gymnastics, CHEN Yile (CHN) is eyeing two more golds to complement her existing individual and team titles, potentially becoming the sixth woman to win four or more golds in one year. In the Men’s parallel bars, Uzbekistan has been the only nation to consistently reach the podium in the last two cycles, thanks to Anton FOKIN's silver medals in 2010 and 2014. In the Men’s horizontal bars, China and Japan are tied for the record with 15 medals each. Bowling introduces a new format with the Women’s six-person team event, replacing the previous five-person team competition; historically, South Korea, the Philippines, and Chinese Taipei have each won two golds in the older format. In Road Cycling, no athlete has ever swept both the road race and the individual time trial in one Games, but NA Ahreum (KOR) and Alexey LUTSENKO (KAZ) are attempting to break that streak. Only Sergei KRUSHEVSKIY (UZB) came close in 2002, winning gold and bronze respectively. In Fencing, China dominates the Women’s team épée with four out of six golds, though South Korea and Japan have also tasted victory. China and South Korea are tied for the most total medals in this event with six each. In the Men’s team foil, Japan broke China's four-Games winning streak in 2014, while South Korea holds the record for most total medals with ten. New additions to the Games include Jetski (Runabout limited) and Ju-Jitsu, both making their debut. In Kabaddi, the Women's final is a rematch of 2014, where India beat Iran 31-21. The Men's final will be historic as it's the first one not featuring India, after both South Korea and Iran knocked them out. In Rowing, 16-year-old Irin NEEGREE (THA) could become the youngest female medalist in history if she places top three in the lightweight single sculls. In the Men's lightweight single sculls, the medals have been spread across ten different nations, though China and Japan lead the count. China's dominance continues in the Women's lightweight double sculls (six of seven golds) and the Women's four (six for six). Meanwhile, the Men's lightweight eight makes its first appearance. Shooting adds the Men's 300m standard rifle for the first time. In the Women's 10m pistol, India's Manu BHAKER and Heena SIDHU look to carry their Commonwealth Games success here. In the Men's 10m running target, China has been untouchable since 2002. Softball remains a tight circle; Japan, China, and Chinese Taipei have swept all 21 available medals, with gold medal matches historically being shutouts. Japanese star Yukiko UENO is looking to extend her record of four golds. Back to swimming: SUN Yang (CHN) and Ryosuke IRIE (JPN) are both hunting for a record-equaling 14th medal. Rikako IKEE (JPN) is aiming for a double in the 50m and 100m freestyle, a feat never before achieved by a woman. In the Men's 50m breaststroke, Dmitriy BALANDIN (KAZ) still holds the record for the youngest winner and fastest time from 2014. WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) could become the sixth Chinese woman to win four golds in one Games in the 400m freestyle. SUN Yang (CHN) is also attempting to become the first man to medal three times in the 1500m freestyle. In the 4x100m medley relay, Japan and China have historically dominated, though Indonesia has secured five medals, its best result in a single swimming event. In Tennis, the Women's final will be an all-Chinese affair between WANG Qiang and ZHANG Shuai, meaning China will tie Japan's record of five golds. WANG Qiang could specifically become the first double gold medalist in this event. Finally, in Men's doubles, South Korea's legendary streak of medaling in every Games since 1978 has finally come to an end.
Rikako IKEE (JPN) could win her eighth medal at the 2018 Asian Games, becoming the first woman to achieve eight medals in any sport at a single Games.
IKEE would join SO Gin Man (PRK) as the only two athletes to win eight medals at a single Asian Games. SO won eight medals in shooting in 1982.
IKEE could also become the first woman to win six gold medals at a single Games. SO is the only other athlete to have won more than five gold medals in a single year, seven in 1982.
Artistic Gymnastics
CHEN Yile (CHN) could add two more gold medals to the individual and team all-around gold medals she already won. She would become the sixth female gymnast to win at least four gold medals in a single year at the Asian Games.
Men’s parallel bars: Uzbekistan is the only NOC to finish on the podium in this event at the last two Asian Games as Anton FOKIN (UZB) won silver in both 2010 and 2014.
Men’s horizontal bars: China (G7-S4-B4) and Japan (G4-S7-B4) have both won a record 15 medals in the men’s horizontal bar at the Asian Games.
Bowling
Women’s team of six: This event will be held at the Asian Games for the first time. Previously, the women’s team of five event was held at the Asian Games.
Republic of Korea, Philippines and Chinese Taipei all won a record two gold medals in the women’s team of five event.
Cycling Road
General: No cyclist has won both the road race and individual time trial at a single Asian Games. NA Ahreum (KOR) and Alexey LUTSENKO (KAZ) can achieve this at these Games.
The only cyclist to have won a medal in both the road race and individual time trial at a single Asian Games was Sergei KRUSHEVSKIY (UZB) in 2002: gold in road race, bronze in time trial.
Fencing
Women’s team epee: China has won four of the six gold medals in the women’s team épée event at the Asian Games. Republic of Korea (2002) and Japan (2010) have also won the event.
China (G4-S2-B0) and Republic of Korea (G1-S4-B1) share the record of six total medals.
Men’s team foil: Japan won the gold medal in the men’s team foil event at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, ending China’s four-edition winning streak.
Republic of Korea (G3-S4-B3) has won a record 10 total medals in this event at the Asian Games. China (G5-S4-B0) and Japan (G2-S2-B5) have both won nine.
Jetski
Runabout limited: Jetski is making its debut at the Asian Games.
Ju-Jitsu
General: Ju-jitsu is being held at the Asian Games for the first time.
Kabaddi
Women’s team: India versus Iran is a replay of the Incheon 2014 Asian Games gold medal final. On that occasion, India won 31-21.
Men’s team: Republic of Korea and Iran will contest the first gold medal final to not involve India. Both teams defeated India enroute to the final.
Rowing
Women’s lightweight single sculls: Irin NEEGREE (THA), at age 16 years, would become the youngest woman to win a rowing medal at the Asian Games if she finishes in the top three.
Men’s lightweight single sculls: Ten different NOCs have won at least one medal in this event at the Asian Games. China (G4-S0-B0) and Japan (G0-S3-B0) lead the NOCs in terms of medals won.
Women’s lightweight double sculls: China has won six of the seven gold medals in the women’s lightweight double sculls event.
Men’s lightweight double sculls: Japan (4) and China (3) are the only NOCs to have won the men’s lightweight double sculls at the Asian Games.
Women’s four: China has won the women’s four event all previous six times it was held at the Asian Games.
Men’s lightweight eight: The men’s lightweight eight event will make its debut at the Asian Games.
Shooting
Men’s 300m standard rifle: The men’s 300m standard rifle event will be held for the first time at the Asian Games.
Women’s 10m pistol:Manu BHAKER (IND) won this event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Heena SIDHU (IND) finished in second place.
Men’s 10m running target: China has won each of the last four gold medals in this event at the Asian Games, from 2002 to 2014.
Softball
Team: Japan (G4-S3-B0), China (G3-S2-B2) and Chinese Taipei (G0-S3-B4) have won all 21 softball medals at the Asian Games.
On the four occasions there was a gold medal match, the runners-up never scored a run: China – Japan 5-0 (1998), Japan – Chinese Taipei 7-0 (2006), Japan – China 2-0 (2010) and Japan – Chinese Taipei 6-0 (2014).
Japanese pitcher Yukiko UENO (JPN) can add to her record total of four gold medals in softball at the Asian Games.
Swimming
General: SUN Yang (CHN) and Ryosuke IRIE (JPN) can win a record-equalling 14th medal in swimming.
Women’s 50m freestyle: Rikako IKEE (JPN) can become the first female swimmer to win the 50m and 100m freestyle double at a single Asian Games.
Men’s 50m breaststroke: Dmitriy BALANDIN (KAZ) won gold in 27.78 in 2014 at age 19 years, to become the youngest winner in this event, and set the fastest gold medal winning time.
Women’s 400m freestyle: WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) could become the sixth Chinese woman to win at least four gold medals in swimming at a single Asian Games.
Men’s 1500m freestyle: SUN Yang (CHN) can become the first man to win three medals in this event. He won gold in 2010 and 2014.
No swimmer has won three medals in total in the men’s 1500m freestyle at the Asian Games.
Men’s 4x100m medley relay: Only Japan (13) and China (2) have won the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the Asian Games.
Indonesia has won five medals in the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the Asian Games, most for the NOC in a single swimming event.
Tennis
Women’s singles: WANG Qiang (CHN) and ZHANG Shuai (CHN) will contest the final, ensuring that China equals Japan’s record of five gold medals in this event in Asian Games history.
WANG Qiang (CHN) can become the first player to win two gold medals in this event, after beating Luksika KUMKHUM (THA) in the final of the Incheon 2014 Asian Games.
Men’s doubles: This is the first Asian Games since 1978 that the Republic of Korea has not won a medal in this event. It had been the longest active streak for an NOC winning a medal in a specific tennis event.
Statistics provided by Gracenote Sports