First Gold Awarded at Sanya Asian Beach Games as China’s Fan Junjie Claims Victory

(ACTV, Australia) Sanya, Hainan, April 23 – According to the Sixth Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee, on the morning of April 23, Chinese athlete Fan Junjie won the men’s individual aquathlon at the 6th Asian Beach Games (Sanya ABG) in a time of 28 minutes and 20 seconds, claiming the first gold medal of the Games.

Aquathlon, a discipline derived from triathlon, made its debut at the Asian Beach Games on this occasion, and Fan Junjie thus became the first aquathlon champion in the history of the event. Another Chinese athlete, Teng Yunfeng, took the silver medal in 28 minutes and 30 seconds, while Pan Ziyi of Chinese Taipei finished third.

 

April 23, Men’s Individual Aquathlon at the 6th Asian Beach Games: Chinese athlete Fan Junjie was the first to cross the finish line to win the title.
 (Photo courtesy of the Sixth Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee) 

Compared with traditional triathlon, the aquathlon features shorter distances and a faster pace. The individual event was conducted in the sequence of a 2.5-kilometre run, a 1-kilometre swim and another 2.5-kilometre run. In today’s competition, Fan Junjie stayed close to Kazakhstan’s Khonisbayev Daryn during the opening 2.5-kilometre run. In the 1-kilometre swim leg, Fan was the first to enter the water and capitalised on his swimming strength to quickly open up a gap. Entering the final running segment, he consolidated his lead and was the first to hit the finish tape.

Although a post-2000s athlete, Fan Junjie is already a seasoned veteran on the triathlon circuit. Last year, he won the men’s individual triathlon at the 15th National Games and has also claimed the men’s title at an ITU Triathlon Asian Cup event. “I am especially happy to win the first gold medal on home soil,” Fan said after his victory.

The aquathlon programme at this edition of the Asian Beach Games features 71 athletes from 21 countries and regions, comprising men’s and women’s individual events as well as a mixed relay, with a total of three gold medals to be awarded. (End)

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