Chinese athletics team claim three golds at IAAF World Challenge

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Following the season's debut in Shanghai Diamond League three days ago, the Chinese athletics team dominated to claim three gold medals at the 2019 Nanjing IAAF World Challenge on Tuesday.

World top-ranked shot putter Gong Lijiao lived up to the expectations to win with a world-leading mark of 19.84 meters.

The defending world champion bounced back from an upset defeat at the 2019 Shanghai Diamond League as she hurled 18.90m to take an early lead and further improved it to 19.42m and 19.84m in the following two rounds to seal her victory.

Danniel Thomas-Dodd of Jamaica finished second at 19.21m while Chase Ealey of the United States, who took a surprising victory in Shanghai last Saturday, also achieved 19.21m but had to settle with third place after a countback.

Local favorite Wang Yu took the men's high jumping victory with a world lead of 2.31 meters.

Wang Yu, the Shanghai winner, claims another gold with a world lead of 2.31 meters in Nanjing on Tuesday. /VCG Photo

Wang, who just cruised to the top podium in Shanghai, leaped over 2.20m, 2.23m and 2.26m with a clean sheet, before clearing 2.29m with his second attempt.

When the bar was raised to 2.31, the 27-year-old Chinese conquered it with his first try to seal the win in front of jubilant crowds, tying with the world leading mark set by Canadian Michael Mason last month. He then tried to clear 2.33m but failed all his three attempts.

"I was in a very good form today. So it was a little pity that I failed to clear 2.33m. I will try to improve my personal best in my next competitions," said Wang, whose outdoor best of 2.33m was recorded in Beijing back in 2013.

Django Lovett of Canada and Maksin Nedasekau of Belarus both cleared 2.29m and the duo tied at the second place after countback.

Hammer thrower Wang Zheng claimed her third straight title in just one month as she hurled a winning mark of 75.27 meters.

Wang Zheng throws 75.27m to earn the third victory in a month. /VCG Photo

The 31-year-old achieved her winning throw in the fourth round, while DeAnna Price of the United States took the silver medal thanks to her fifth round effort of 74.21m. Reigning world and Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland took third place with 73.64m.

"I am in a quite good form today but lacked stability as I made three fouls in six rounds. Generally speaking, I am satisfied with my performance today," Wang said.

"It feels great to achieve three over-75m victories in a row. But I am not in my best form now. I will save my best form for the World Championships in Doha later this year."

It is the third consecutive victory collected by Wang in international arenas in 30 days, following her 75.66m win at the Asian Championships in Doha as well as another 75.27m victory at the Golden Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan, two days ago.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency