Hong Kong win relay gold at Asian meet

Sprinters hand over batons during the men's 4 x 100 metres relay on the fourth day of the Asian Athletics Championship 2013 at the Chatrapati Shivaji Stadium in Pune on July 6, 2013. (AFP)

PUNE, India (AFP) – Hong Kong won the men's 4x100 metres relay to pick up their first gold medal at the 20th Asian track and field championships in Pune on Saturday, as Chinese athletes set two new meet records.

Hong Kong's quartet of Tang Yik Chun, Lai Chun Ho, Ng Ka Fung and Tsui Chi Ho won the relay in 38.94 seconds, ahead of second-placed Japan (39.11 secs) and China (39.17 secs).

Li Ling of China scaled 4.54 metres in the women's pole vault, surpassing the previous meet record of 4.53m set by compatriot Gao Shuying in the 2005 edition in Incheon, South Korea.

Ren Mingqian made it a 1-2 for China in the event by grabbing the silver medal with a throw of 4.40m, while Thailand's Sukanya Chomchuednee took the bronze with 4.15m.

China's woman javelin thrower Li Lingwei won gold with a new meet record of 60.65 metres, erasing the previous mark of 58.35m by Buoban Phamang of Thailand in 2007.

Silver-medallist Nadeeka Lakmali of Sri Lanka also went past Buoban's mark with a throw of 60.16m.

China also won the women's shot put through Liu Xiangrong and cruised to victory in the women's 4x100m relay ahead of Japan and Thailand.

Dilshod Nazarov of Tajikstan clinched the men's hammer throw with a heave of 78.32m, even though the throw fell below his personal best of 80.71 achieved in May.

Ali Zenkawi of Kuwait finished second at 74.70m, while Oi Dakai of China took the bronze at 74.19m.

With 30 titles already decided in the 42-event meet, China lead the rest of the pack with 12 gold medals, followed by Bahrain with four golds, and Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan with three each.

Gold medallists in the meet are assured of a direct entry at next month's world championships in Moscow.