Korean media: China once again demonstrates dominance, securing 17 gold medals, while South Korea fails to win a single silver.
On October 2, Korean newspaper Kyunghyang News published an article questioning whether Asia could produce a nation capable of surpassing China in track and field.
China’s track and field team achieved outstanding results during the seven-day competition at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, earning a total of 17 gold, 14 silver, and 8 bronze medals—39 medals overall. This marks the 11th consecutive time since 1986 that China has topped the gold medal standings in athletics at the Asian Games.
On the final day of competition, China added three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes, overtaking host nation Japan to finish first in both the gold and overall medal rankings. Japan placed second in athletics with 10 golds, 12 silvers, and 10 bronzes. Despite notable progress, China maintained a decisive lead.
This achievement extends China’s streak of consecutive gold medal podium finishes since 1986 and represents its best performance in a non-home Asian Games over the past 28 years.
China also unveiled a new rising star at this edition. Chen Yujie, who will turn 18 in December, claimed three titles in her debut appearance at the Asian Games: gold in the women’s 100 meters, breaking the games record; silver in the 200 meters; and gold in both the women’s 4×100 meter relay and mixed 4×100 meter relay. Media outlets praised her as “a favorite from the starting line, having already secured a ‘triple crown’ on her first Asian Games appearance.”
The transition within China’s track and field program is now entering a phase of comprehensive momentum rather than sporadic breakthroughs. This signals successful generational renewal across traditional Asian strongholds such as sprinting, hurdles, and throwing events. In competitive sports, no champion endures forever—each conclusion of a competition heralds the beginning of a new cycle.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s track and field team earned three bronze medals, underscoring the emergence of future talent, yet expressing disappointment at failing to secure a silver medal for the second consecutive Games.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877904043223047/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.