Hosts Indonesia smash Asian Games gold medal record

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Asian Games hosts Indonesia smashed their record gold medal haul Monday on a day tainted by referee controversy, while Son Heung-min's hopes of a military service reprieve were kept alive by a penalty deep in extra time.

Indonesia dominated its homegrown ancient martial art of pencak silat, scooping all eight gold medals as they doubled their previous best tally at the regional Olympics.

But there were controversial scenes as a Malaysian athlete withdrew in protest two seconds before the end of his final, accusing judges of bias.

Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari, the 2016 world champion, punched a hole in the wall of the warm-up area, but officials told AFP he was unlikely to face sanctions.

There were also golds for Indonesia in both the men's and women's speed climbing events.

The successes brought their gold count for the day to 10, and their total for the Games to 22 – double their previous best, when they last hosted the regional Olympics in 1962.

And there was more reason to cheer for local fans in Jakarta as homegrown badminton star Jonatan Christie stormed into the men's final with a 21-15, 15-21, 21-19 victory over Kenta Nishimoto of Japan.

The world number 15, who began his route to the gold medal match by knocking out top-seeded Shi Yuqi of China, said he was "overwhelmed" by the support in badminton-mad Indonesia.

He will face off against Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen on Tuesday, who ended the dream run of fellow Indonesian shuttler Anthony Sinisuka Ginting in the other semi-final.

Son's dream survives

Spurs forward Son Heung-min's bid to avoid career-threatening military service by winning gold came perilously close to disaster in South Korea's thrilling clash with a hotly tipped Uzbekistan side.

The South Koreans were trailing with 15 minutes to go before hat-trick hero Hwang Ui-jo equalized to force extra time. A late Hwang Hee-chan penalty was enough to send the Koreans through.

Son clenches his fists to celebrate South Korea's hard-fought victory against a battling Uzbekistan side on August 27. /VCG Photo

"I didn't see where he put the penalty but I'm proud of him," admitted the relieved Korea captain.

A day after a joint Korean team, symbolizing this year's rapprochement on the Korean peninsula, won their first Asian Games gold in the women's dragon boat racing, their men's team took a bronze in the 1,000m race.

And the South's weightlifters joined their Northern neighbors in celebration as Kim Kuk Hyang secured North Korea's eighth gold on the last day of the sport these Games – doubling their previous record.

"I think we have shown the world that the people of Korea are the greatest as one," Kim said.

In the medal standings, China's haul continued to rocket, claiming eight more golds including wins in both men's and women's cycling team sprints.

The Asian Games giant now has 86 golds, followed by Japan on 43 and South Korea on 28.

Source(s): AFP