Ikee Rikako of Japan competes during women's 4x100m medley relay final of swimming at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)
JAKARTA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan smashed three titles for a 17-16 lead over China on the gold medal tally in the pool after five-day competition at the Asian Games here on Thursday.
Suzuki Satomi opened the golden hunt for Japan with a Games record of 30.83 in the women's 50 breaststroke, beating Ho Ru En Roanne from Singapore to second in 31.23 and Feng Junyang of China third in 31.24.
Shioura Shinri and Nakamura Katsumi ensured a one-two finish in the men's 100m freestyle in 48.71 and 48.72, while China's 50m freestyle champion Yu Hexin came to third in 48.88.
Japan dominated the women's 4X100m medley from the start, winning in 3:54.73, while both Hong Kong, China and Singapore took the surprise to take the silver and bronze medals after runners-up China were disqualified.
As the most prolific swimmer so far in the pool, Ikee Rikako, who took her fifth gold medal from the medley relay, said: "To be honest I feel pretty broken and my body aches but the joy I get from winning blows all those thoughts away. I'm proud to be an Asian champion, but I want to achieve more. It's been a real battle with China and I just want to end on a high note tomorrow in the 50m freestyle."
China's world champion Xu Jiayu tasted sweet victory as a backstroke specialist as he won his third gold by taking the 200m title on Thursday with a personal best of 1:53.99, which could place him No.3 in the world of the year. Irie Ryosuke, the defending champion came to second 1:55.11 and Sunama Keita third in 1:55.54.
"My plan was to swim as fast as I could in the first 100m and set my own pace. I've been competing from the first day until now, the fifth day, I felt tired but I realized my dream step by step. My goal was to try to win five gold medals. I believe in myself that I can fight until the last event, the men's medley relay tomorrow," said the 23-year-old Xu.
The 16-year-old Wang Jianjiahe from China, winner of 1,500m, led all the way through women's 800m freestyle and touched the wall in a Game record of 8.18.55, beating teammate Li Bingjie to second in 8:28.14 and Kobori Waka third in 8:30.65.
"I felt better and more relaxed than I was on the first day in 1,500. I should swim faster and break the Asian Games," Wang said.
Reigning champion Joseph Isaac Schooling of Singapore stormed to his second gold medal by adding the 50m butterfly in 23.61, followed by China's Wang Peng in 23.65 and Ailbek Mussin of Kazakhstan third 23.73.
On Friday, medals of six events will be on offer on the last day of Asiad swimming competition on Aug. 25.
