Japanese swimmer claims first-ever Asian Para Games gold
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Takuro Yamada of Japan made history in Guangzhou on Monday as he finished first in the men's S9 400 freestyle final to claim the first-ever gold medal of the new-born Asian Para Games.
Despite winning the gold medal in 4 minutes 38.71 seconds, the 19-year-old Yamada seemed not satisfied with his performance.
"I wanted to break my personal best in the competition but failed. It was not a very good result for me," said Yamada, the Asian record holder of the event, in a post-match press conference.
"My ultimate goal is the 2010 London Paralympic Games. I want to win a gold medal," said Yamada.
Yamada participated in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics but failed to make a dent.
China's Wang Jiachao finished second in front of the cheering home crowd. The bronze went to Kwon Hyun of South Korea.
"Yamada is a good swimmer and we have been good friends since 2003. But to be honest, we did not often compete together, because we are from two different classes," said Wang, who usually participated in S8 events, a class for athletes with graver disability than S9.
As there were not enough athletes registering in S8 men's 400 freestyle, the organizers had to combine the two classes.
The classification of both S8 and S9 in swimming event is for wheelchair athletes and amputees. A total of 12 swimmers competed in Monday's race.
It was the first time for the Asian Para Games, which emerged from the dissolution of the FESPIC Games (the parallel sport event for disabled Pacific and East Asian athletes), to run parallel to the Asian Games.
The quadrennial continental sports gala for the disabled opened its first edition with an emotional opening ceremony here on Dec. 12 and will conclude on Dec. 19.
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