Asian Beach Games 2014

AFTER several months of preparations, Modern Triathle has made a triumphant debut at the 4th edition of the Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand.

Sixteen teams from 10 countries took part in what was a thrilling and popular event under the sun of Nai Yang, including four nations - Philippines, India, Mongolia and the host country Thailand - taking part in Beach Modern Triathle for the first time.

The success of this format at continental level now gives the sport a strong platform on which to develop ahead of the next Asian Beach Games in Nha Trang, Vietnam in 2016.

Men’s Individual - Korea wins Gold and Silver

All the participants were made to wait 24 hours to get to the start line after a huge tropical storm caused a delay, but it was worth waiting for as Korea enjoyed a triumphant first day in Phuket.

It was a sunny morning on Nai Yang Beach and after a solid performance, Jun Woongtae of Korea won a well-deserved gold medal with a 13-second advantage on his compatriot Lee Jihun, the silver medallist.

Li Shihuanof China picked up the bronze, 25 seconds behind.

The event also featured a tremendous performance by Philippines athlete John Leerams Chicano, who was only previously registered as a beach triathlete but decided to experiment with Modern Triathle - which adds laser pistol shooting to the disciplines of running and swimming - with some success.

Women’s Individual - China dominates with Gold and Silver

Immediately after the Men’s Individual race the women took centre stage on Nai Yang Beach and China, a little disappointed to be upstaged by Korea in the earlier event, secured fully-deserved gold and silver medals with Huo Qi hitting the finish line first, 22 seconds ahead of compatriot Bian Yufei, who won silver. Only eight seconds behind Bian, in a major surprise, came Valeriia Uvarova of Kyrgyzstan who won a spectacular bronze medal for her country.

Again there was a noticeable performance from a Philippines athlete who normally specialises in triathlon. Marion Kim Mangrobang finishing fifth, only four seconds behind fourth-placed Kim Sehee of Korea.

Mixed Relay - Korea has the last laugh with narrow victory over China

Again Korea and China proved to be the dominant nations at the 2014 Asian Beach Games and the event came to a terrific climax as the Korean duo pulled off an unlikely victory.

China, represented by Women’s Individual champion Huo Qi and male compatriot Zhang Linbin, had led the entire race until the last five metres where they were amazingly overtaken by Kim Sehee and Jun Woongtae, the Individual Men’s champion from Korea.

The crowd roared the two teams home as they staged a dramatic spectacle to bring a successful event to a close. Bronze in the Mixed Relay went to Kazakhstan, represented by Olga Boiko and Vladislav Sukharev, who had finished fifth in the Men’s Individual event.

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