China's shot-putter champion's secret to victory at Asian Games

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China's shot-putter Gong Lijiao, multiple world championship winner, grabbed her second Asian Games gold comfortably at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia on Sunday, with a "heavy" secret.

The 29-year-old veteran showed absolute dominance in the field to win gold, with her sixth attempt of 19.66 meters.

Her younger compatriot Gao Yang, 25, edged Noora Jasim of Bahrain to claim silver with 17.64m. Jasim brought home bronze in her first try of 17.11m.

Gong, the defending champion and top seed of the event, showed no surprise to the victory, attributing the picking-up of her momentum this year to her successful weight-gaining scheme.

She disclosed that she lost some 15 kg of weight after winning gold at the athletics world championships in August last year in London, which led to unsatisfactory performances by her afterward.

Gong Lijiao competes in the final of the women's shot put athletics event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

"I have put up 20 kg of weight since the autumn last year, and it worked," Gong said.

Gong has cast her eyes beyond Jakarta, taking the Asian Games as a warm-up for future.

"It's like I'm running too fast in a race. They (other athletes) can't follow up. But maybe one day, there's a genius pumping out from nowhere," she said.

"I'm satisfied with my performance tonight, but my goal is Tokyo (Olympic Games)," she added.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency