Hosoda Yuichi of Japan mixed relay team celebrates after finishing the mixed relay Triathlon at the 18th Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Sept. 2, 2018. Japan mixed relay triathlon team won the gold medal.(Xinhua/Veri Sanovri)
JAKARTA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Yasuhiro Yamashita, chief of the Japanese delegation to the 18th Asian Games, said Sunday that Japan achieved better-than-expected results at the Asiad here and pledged to carry on this good momentum to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan wrapped up its Asian Games campaign with a total of 205 medals, including 75 golds, 56 silvers, and 74 bronzes, overtaking South Korea to finish second in the tally for the first time in a decade.
The achievements were "far better than our expectations," Yamashita told a press conference at the main press center of the Asian Games here.
Yamashita especially spoke highly of the achievements made by Japanese swimmers, who won a total of 19 gold medals here.
Players of Japan celebrate during the awarding ceremony after the hockey women's final match between Japan and India at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)
"With this, the whole team gained momentum and an atmosphere was created among Japanese athletes to push toward achieving their dreams in various sports events," he said.
He also acclaimed the performance of female Japanese athletes, who won more gold medals than male athletes at the Asiad here.
One of such female athletes is teenage swimmer Rikako Ikee who was named the Most Valuable Player at the Asiad after winning eight medals, including six golds.
"I hope the female athletes would continue to shine at the 2020 Olympics," said Yamashita.
Meanwhile, Yamashita also acknowledged that it would still not be easy to meet Japan's target of 30 gold medals at the 2020 Olympics.
Sugasawa Yuika (C) of Japan celebrates after scoring during the women's football final match between China and Japan at the 18th Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, Aug. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)
"It will be difficult to expect much in 2020 if we stay with the status quo," he said.
"We will not be satisfied with the achievements (at the Asiad), but will make more efforts to connect this to the Tokyo Olympics," he added.
Four Japanese basketball players have been punished and sent back home for buying sex while participating in the Asian Games here.
Japanese delegation marches into the opening ceremony of Asian Games on Aug. 18.
Yamashita apologized again for the players' misconduct but said that he believes the scandal did not affect the performance of other Japanese athletes despite the shock.
