Hosts Japan had plenty to celebrate at the Asian Para Games on Thursday as wheelchair racer Tomoki Sato added another gold to his collection while Kotaro Ogiwara swam to his maiden continental title, both setting a Games record in the process.
Japan also picked up gold through Daiki Ishiyama on the track and swimmers Akito Minai and Kanon Fukuda, while Malaysia’s Wong Kar Gee and Indonesia’s Abdil Majid Rahman were among the other winners on a day that saw several impressive performances.
Sato Savours Home Support
A day after winning the men’s 100m T51/T52, Sato returned to Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to complete the sprint double with victory in the 400m in 55.42 seconds. For the Japanese wheelchair racer, the second gold was made even more special by the home crowd.
“I’m pleased to get a medal. Hearing the crowd chant ‘Nippon’ was very moving,” Sato said.
Ishiyama had his own reason to savour victory in the men’s 400m T12. Among those cheering him on were colleagues from Toyota Motor Corporation, where he works.
“I had heard that a lot of people from my company were coming to watch and knowing that they were there really gave me an extra boost,” Ishiyama said.
Ogiwara Wins Gold but Wants More
In the pool, Ogiwara made his mark by winning the men’s 100m backstroke S8 in 1 minute 5.26 seconds, lowering the Asian Para Games record and claiming his first continental gold.
The 24-year-old Japanese swimming captain was happy with the result, even if the clock suggested there was more work to be done.
“1:05.26 isn’t my best time, but it’s my first Asian title, so I think I’ll just take it simply as something to be happy about,” he said.
Ogiwara, however, is already looking beyond Nagoya towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
“I want a gold medal in Los Angeles. I need to find a way to shave another second off my time. I can’t wait to get back to training,” he added.
Japan’s success continued through Minai, who won the men’s 400m freestyle S10 in a Games record 4:27.44, while Fukuda claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke SB8 crown.
Hat-trick for Wen
China’s nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Wen Xiaoyan clinched her third gold medal in as many days at Nagoya when she touched the women’s 100m T27/38 finish line with her season-best time of 12.95 seconds. She has earlier won the women’s 200m T37 and women’s long jump T37/38.
Malaysia’s Wong Kar Gee finally had his moment at the top of the podium, winning the men’s long jump T12 with an effort of 6.74m.
The 35-year-old had finished with silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games but went one better in Nagoya, holding off Uzbekistan’s Sevinchbek Khusanov (6.54m) and Japan’s Ishiyama (6.48m).
China’s Yang Yifei took the men’s long jump T36 gold with 5.60m, ahead of Uzbekistan’s Doston Kakhhorov (5.42m) and Izzat Turgunov (5.33m).
Cen Fights Back for Archery Gold
China’s Cen Mengkan produced one of the day’s more dramatic finishes in the women’s W1 archery final, coming from behind to beat India’s Swati Chaudhary 6-4.
Trailing 4-2, Cen delivered a perfect 30 in the fourth set to level the contest before holding her nerve in the deciding set.
India’s Sheetal Devi, meanwhile, collected two gold medals in a day. The 19-year-old beat Singapore’s Nur Syahidah Alim 142-138 in the women’s compound individual final before joining Toman Kumar to defeat Indonesia 151-148 in the mixed team event.
India Sweep High Jump Medals
India dominated the men’s high jump T63, claiming all three podium places as Shailesh Kumar set an Asian Para Games record of 1.89m. Varun Bhati finished second with 1.84m, while Rahul Saroha took bronze with 1.81m. India also enjoyed success in swimming. Ravi Budigina secured his third medal of the Games with bronze in the men’s 50m freestyle S13, Kapil Kumar took silver in the men’s 400m freestyle S10, and Swatik Patil added bronze in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB9.
