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Josh Ball

Mike Chan

Grace Lau Mo-sheung turned Asian Games bronze into silver at the second time of asking, Lin Xinyu got China’s gold medal tally up and running, with ominous signs of more to follow in the pool on Sunday.
Appearing in her third straight Games, Lau made sure it was a good day for Hong Kong, winning the city’s first medal in Japan.
Her second place at Toyohashi Gymnasium was an upgrade on the bronze she won in Jakarta in 2018 and again in Hangzhou three years ago.
Not that Lau was satisfied, saying that this had been the year she was “really ready to get the gold medal”.
“In 2018 and 2023, I was very close in the semi-finals, but I always missed it,” she added.

Unfortunately for Lau, she ran across unforgiving arch-rival Maho Ono, whose 5-0 demolition job earned Japan its second gold in the space of just a few hours.
“This time, finally, Hong Kong and Japan were separated,” Lau said. “We always drew each other in the semi-finals, so I actually expected it to happen again this time.”
In Tokyo, meanwhile, China’s swimmers began their Games in determined fashion. Olympic champion Pan Zhanle cruised into the final of the men’s 100m freestyle, and teenage starlet Yu Zidi moved into the final of the women’s 200m butterfly.
And there was nothing low-key about Tang Qianting’s progress in the 50m breaststroke, with the 22-year-old smashing her own women’s Asian Games record on her way to the final.
All three will be back to race for gold towards the end of the first official day of competition, with all expected to add to the title sealed at Gamagori City Triathlon Venue, where Lin beat teammate Huang Anqui across the finish line.
Lin was almost a full second faster than Japan’s bronze medallist, Hayashi Manami, who came home in 58 minutes and 36 seconds.
Earlier, after a week of chaos and criticism, the hosts were finally able to have some good news to share, with men’s triathlete Takumi Hojo winning the first gold to be awarded at the 20th Asiad.
Defending the title won by compatriot Kenji Nener in Hangzhou three years ago, Hojo held off the challenge of China’s Zhang Xiuri to cross the line in 52:56.
Zhang finished nine seconds back to take silver, while bronze went to Kazakhstan’s Arlan Zhanabay, who crossed in 53:11.
“As it’s our first gold medal, it’s given the Japanese team a real boost, and we’ve managed to pass the baton on to the women and our teammates for the relay,” Hojo said.
While revelling in his achievement, Zhang said he was “disappointed to be behind Japan”.
Zhanabay said that after trying to keep up with the lead pack on the bike, he found the first lap of the 5km run the hardest.
“Of course, I would like to win, but we have what we have,” he added. “I’m very proud because I’m only 20 and it’s my first medal at the Asian Games.”
Hong Kong triathlete Oscar Coggins, meanwhile, did not exactly bury his demons of 2023, but at least this time managed to finish the race after withdrawing midway through last time out.
Second at one stage, Coggins was dropped during the run and ultimately finished seventh in 53:55, some 14 seconds behind teammate Robin Elg in sixth.
Coggins found himself out of position early, and rather than dictating the pace “spent my energy getting to the front”, which left him in the wrong place when it came time to charge for the line.
“It’s partly out of my control but I didn’t really have the level today,” Coggins added.
Attention will eventually return to Tokyo Aquatics Centre, where all eyes will be on Yu as she goes for gold in the women’s 200m butterfly. The 13-year-old topped qualifying with a relatively relaxed time of two minutes and 7.97 seconds.

There has been a significant change to the rules this year, increasing the number of athletes who will race for gold. Where previous Games and Olympics capped it at eight, that has been raised to 10 in the individual events this time around.
Hong Kong’s Yeung Hoi-ching, who clocked 2:15.18, also reached the now expanded final in 10th place, while compatriot Mya Lynn Mathis was 12th fastest in 2:17.84.
In the men’s 200m individual medley, Asian and Asian Games double record holder Wang Shun touched the wall third in 2:00.04, just ahead of South Korea’s Kim Ji-hun.
A pair of Japanese swimmers, Tomoyuki Matsushita and Yumeki Kojima, finished in 1:58.56 and 1:59.91, qualifying first and second.
Other members of China’s delegation in action early on included Olympic 100m freestyle champion Pan, who eased into the final in 48.47, and Asian record holder Tang, who smashed her own women’s 50m breaststroke Asian Games record.
Tang’s time of 29.50 seconds sliced 0.42 off her previous best, set in Hangzhou.


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Asian Games 2026

Grace Lau performs during the Asian Games karate competition at the Toyohashi Gymnasium. Photo: Sam Tsang

Takumi Hojo won Japan’s first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Games. Photo: AP

China’s Yu Zidi in action during the women’s 200m butterfly. Photo: Reuters 

The opening ceremony turned attention to the athletes who will be competing over the next fortnight, including the delegation from Hong Kong. Photo: Robert Ng

The opening ceremony was created by famed Japanese filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi. Photo: Sam Tsang

China received the second largest round of applause after the hosts. Photo: Robert Ng

Alexandra Eala has opted to skip the mandatory China Open to represent the Philippines at the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Ceci Lee (right) is hoping to claim gold in the omnium. Photo: Eugene Lee

Alexandra Eala claimed her first tour title at the Washington Open. Photo: AFP

Yu Zidi is already being touted as a future Olympic swimming champion. Photo: AFP

Amanda Yap is Singapore’s first balance beam world championships finalist. Photo: Getty Images

Oscar Coggins secured bronze at the National Games last year. Photo: Eugene Lee

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Hong Kong

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Grace Lau wins karate silver to get Hong Kong on medal table, while China and Japan share spoils in triathlon races


Grace Lau wins karate silver to get Hong Kong on medal table, while China and Japan share spoils in triathlon races.


Triathlon

Robin Elg

Oscar Coggins

Asian Games, day 1: Lau flips bronze to silver, Lin bags China gold, Japan strike twice

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Grace Lau wins karate silver to get Hong Kong on medal table, while China and Japan share spoils in triathlon races

Grace Lau wins karate silver to get Hong Kong on medal table, while China and Japan share spoils in triathlon races