HANGZHOU – For the first time in years, Oluwakemi Adekoya is moving forward with her life instead of looking back.
A four-year doping ban hasn’t dampened Bahrain’s ambitions, with the 30-year-old continuing her dominating form at the Asian Games on Tuesday, beating China’s Mo Jiadi (2019) with a meet record of 54.45 seconds. 55.01) to win the 400m hurdles title. second) and India’s Vitiya Ramraj (55.68 seconds).
Her effort at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium was enough to improve her previous record of 55.09 seconds set at the 2014 Incheon Games. She won her third gold medal here in China, following her 400m and mixed 4x400m relay.
She won the 400m hurdles in 54.48 seconds at the 2018 Games in Jakarta, but was stripped of her victory and provisionally suspended after testing positive for illegal steroids during an out-of-competition test.
“I broke the record at the last Asian Games, but what happened happened,” Nigerian-born Adekoya said upon achieving the record.
“I just wanted to fight and win the gold medal and fight for a new record,” the former indoor world champion said.
“My concentration was 53 (seconds). I ran too many races, so I only managed 54 (seconds) tonight. I still have to race tomorrow, but I’ll be fine.”
There was a surprise in the women’s javelin throw, with India’s Annu Rani clinching a historic gold medal for her country with a season-best 62.92m.
The 31-year-old, who won bronze at the 2014 Asiad Games, fended off competition from China’s reigning Olympic champion Liu Shiying to finish fifth with 57.62m.
Sri Lanka’s Nadisha Dilhan Hatalabage Rekamuge took second place with a personal best of 61.57 meters, followed by Liu and compatriot Liu Huihui (61.29 meters) in third place.
Rani, who is also a bronze medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, said: “I’m surprised, but I’ve been doing my best after years of not doing well.”
“I told myself, “Never give up,” and since it was the last competition of the year, I gave my 100 percent and won a medal.
“I tried to calm myself down because I put so much pressure on myself so many times it didn’t work out.”
In the women’s high jump, Uzbekistan’s Safina Sadullaeva stopped her compatriot Svetlana Radzivir from winning her fourth straight title and won the gold medal with a season-best jump of 1.86 meters.
Singapore’s Michelle Sun finished 12th with a distance of 1.70m.