Japan shine at Asian Para Triathlon Championships

Tokyo 2020 hosts in good shape ahead of home Paralympics 14 Aug 2018
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male Para triathlete Jumpei Kimura competing on a hand bike

Jumpei Kimura was one of six gold medallists for Japan at the 2018 Asian Championships

ⒸAsian Triathlon Union
By IPC

Japan were the big winners at the Asian Para Triathlon Championships, claiming six of the eight gold medals offered as competition concluded on 10 August in Legazpi City, Philippines.

Four of those events featured an all-Japanese battle for the top prize, with a close call especially in the men’s PTS5 category. Tetsuki Kaji (1:04:40) will remember his first career victory after holding off compatriot Keiichi Sato by five seconds. Despite slower times in the swim and run segments, Kaji was slightly quicker on the bike and more efficient in his transitions. His other podium finish this year was second at the World Cup in Magog, Canada. South Korea’s Jong Kwan Kim completed the top three.

Jumpei Kimura (1:03:20) was in dominant form to win the men’s PTWC and secure his fourth Asian title. Ryota Yoshida came runner-up, and Seiji Tanaka completed the Japanese sweep.

The men’s PTVI and PTS4 were the only events a Japanese athlete did not win.

Hong Kong’s Kin Wa Chu (1:08:34) built a strong lead after the first two legs to outlast Japan’s Satoru Yoneoka in the men’s PTVI. Kyrgyzstan’s Zhalaldin Abduvaliev was third.

China’s Jiachao Wang (1:04:25) was the other non-Japanese victor, finishing ahead of Japan’s Hideki Uda and Kyrgyzstan’s Nurbek Toichubaev respectively.

Japan’s Kenshiro Nakayama was in control from start to finish in the men’s PTS2 to grab his third Asian title, beating out countryman Kenji Hashimoto.

Atsuko Maruo (1:209:19) did likewise in the women’s PTVI, taking the gold over Japanese teammate Keiko Suzuki.

Yukako Hata (1:25:58) was the lone racer in the women’s PTS2, and Wakako Tsuchida (1:11:32) also competed solo in the women’s PTWC.

Complete results from the 2018 Asian Para Triathlon Championships can be found on the International Triathlon Union’s website.