Japanese pride: Home bet Hojo secures 1st Asian Games gold

NAGOYA, Japan (AFP) — Takumi Hojo got host nation Japan off to a perfect start when he won the first gold medal of the Asian Games on Sunday in the men's individual triathlon.

Hojo finished the 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5,000m run in 52 minutes and 56 seconds, nine seconds clear of China's Zhang Xirui in silver with Kazakhstan's Arlan Zhanabay a further six seconds behind.

“As it's our first gold medal, it's given the Japanese team a real boost," said the 30-year-old Hojo, whose win will qualify him for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"I was really fired up. Even the rain held off and I was in top form right up until I stood on the starting line," added Hojo, who also won the Asian Games test triathlon a year ago on the same course in Gamagori city.

"(I knew) it'd be tough, but (I thought) I'd push myself, and if it works, I think it'll be a good race."

Silver medalist Zhang was neck and neck with Hojo most of the way during the 5,000m run, but in the end had to settle for silver.

"I am very happy, although disappointed to be behind Japan," Zhang said.

 "It is an honor for China."

Youngster Zhanabay was delighted to win a bronze medal.

"I'm very satisfied with the result. Of course, I would like to win, but we have what we have," he said.

"I'm very proud because I'm only 20 and it's my first medal at the Asian Games."

China turned the tables in the women's individual triathlon, where Lin Xinyu improved on her silver medal at the last Asian Games in Hangzhou by winning in 57:37.

Huang Anqi completed China's one-two finish as he emerged 21 seconds behind with Japan's Manami Hayashi taking the bronze in 58:36.

Also emerging victorious early were China's 13-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi and Olympic champion Pan Zhanle cruised through their heats Sunday as the swimming competition got underway.

Yu became the youngest swimming world championships medalist in history last year when she won bronze as a 12-year-old as part of China's 4x200m freestyle relay team.

She also finished a whisker outside the medals in fourth in three world individual events.

She has embellished her growing reputation this year, notably with a victory over multiple American Olympic champion Regan Smith in March. 

She opened her Asian Games campaign at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre by breezing through her women's 200m butterfly heat, qualifying for Sunday evening's final with the fastest time in 2:7.97.

It was 2.7 seconds quicker than the second-fastest qualifier, Chinese compatriot Chang Mohan.

Yu does not turn 14 until October.

Pan was in action in the men's 100m freestyle, the event in which he won gold and set a world record at the Paris Olympics.

He qualified with the quickest time of 48.07 seconds, ahead of South Korea's Hwang Sun-woo.

"The first 50 I felt I controlled my speed and then the second 50 I was at the max," the 22-year-old Pan said.

"I think tonight I will be better."

Pan is looking to rebound from a disappointing world championships campaign last year in Singapore, where he failed to make the final in either the 100m or 200m freestyle.