INCHEON: Days after setting an Asian record in the 100 metres, Qatar’s Femi Ogunode powered to victory in the Asian Games 200 metres on Wednesday.

Next on his list: The best sprinters in the world. “One hundred meters, 200 meters, I can take on anyone,” the Nigerian-born Ogunode said, singling out world 100m record-holder Usain Bolt, and Yohan Blake, who holds the second-fastest time. “I see myself achieving greatness.”

Ogunode thrilled the Incheon crowd on Sunday with a new Asian time of 9.93 seconds in the 100, just 0.24 off Blake’s time, and 0.35 away from the world record.

On Wednesday, he pulled away from the field to clock 20.14, a Games record and within 0.11 seconds of Shingo Suetsugu’s 11-year-old Asian mark.

Cries of foul play took over the Games when an aggrieved Indian female boxer turned down her bronze medal and Malaysia lodged a formal complaint after one of its competitors failed a drugs test.

An Iraqi runner was also awarded a gold after a bizarre end to one of the key athletic events where he finished fourth but the first three finishers were all disqualified, and a Syrian karate competitor became the fifth athlete caught doping in a day of discord at Asia’s Olympics.

North Korea stunned world champions Japan 3-1 to win the women’s football final, avenging their tight loss in the title match four years ago.

Indian women’s boxing icon Mary Kom was a big winner as she won a split decision in the flyweight final to claim her first Asian Games gold, buoying her hopes for the 2016 Olympics.

But controversy broke out in the men’s 800m when Abdulaziz Mohammed, Musaab Bala and Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich, who finished one, two and three, were all disqualified.

Team officials protested after Saudi Mohammed was disqualified for obstruction and Qatar’s Bala and Rotich of Bahrain were penalised for breaking lane regulations.

Adnan Taess Akkar, 34, who crossed the line fourth, stepped onto the podium all smiles to collect Iraq’s first gold of the Games.

“The athletes from Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia were very worthy opponents, but they made mistakes and those mistakes were against the rules,” Akkar said.

The drama comes just days after Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet was stripped of her steeplechase win as she was about to step onto the victory podium, only to be reinstated the next day.

India rejoiced as Kom finally got an Asian Games gold. But the spotlight fell on Indian team-mate Sarita Devi, who rejected her lightweight bronze in an angry protest against judging standards and was left facing disciplinary action.

Qatar’s Femi Seun Ogunode (second L) sprints to the finish line ahead of (L-R) Saudi Arabia’s Fahhad Mohammed al-Subaie, Japan’s Shota Iizuka and South Korea’s Yeo Hosua in the 200m final.—AFP

Sarita refused to wear the bronze medal that was presented to her on Wednesday, taking it only in her hand before trying to drape it over a South Korean opponent who had beaten her in a fight the previous day.

When the presentation was over, Sarita left the medal behind, despite being told by the organisers to take it with her.

The International Boxing Federation took a dim view of her actions, submitting a formal report to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) over her behaviour.

“The whole incident looked like a well planned scenario by her and her team, and it is regretful to watch a boxer refuse the medal regardless of what happened in the competition,” AIBA supervisor David Francis said in a statement.

“In this regard, as the Technical Delegate, I had to request OCA to review this incident, so any boxer or athlete in other sports will not follow in her footsteps by respecting the spirit of fair-play and sportsmanship of the Olympic Movement.”

Malaysia was also in the spotlight after the team’s chef de mission said the south-east Asian nation would appeal the decision to suspend its martial arts gold medal winner Tai Cheau Xuen.

According to reports, the Malaysian delegation believes Tai’s sample may have been accidentally switched with another athlete’s.

“I am convinced Tai did nothing wrong. She strongly denied knowingly taking any illegal drugs or substances,” said Ramlan Aziz, National Sports Institute director-general.

The OCA announced on Wednesday that a fifth athlete had tested positive. Syrian karate competitor Nour Aldin Al-Kurdi had tested positive for the banned steroid clenbuterol and had been disqualified from the Games, it said.

The off-field dramas overshadowed most of Wednesday’s competition, where 33 gold medals were decided.

China won just five medals — a modest haul by its lofty standards — but still remained perched at the top of the standings with a total of 294 medals, including 131 golds.

The host-nation South Korea won another eight golds to consolidate its second place position with 62 golds, setting the stage for Thursday’s men’s football final against its reclusive neighbours from North Korea.

Olympic champion triple jumper Olga Rypakova of Kazakhstan successfully defended her Asian Games title in just her third meet since returning to competition in August and compatriot Margarita Mukasheva ran down India’s Lukka Tintu to win the women’s 800m.

Wu Shujia of China won the women’s 100m hurdles, and Takayuki Tanii of Japan the men’s 50km race walk by nine minutes in a games record 3 hours, 40.19 seconds.

The men’s and women’s 400m hurdles were won by a pair of Bahrainis: Ali Khamis and Oluwakemi Mujidat Adekoya, while China’s Zhang Li won the women’s javelin with a games record throw of 65.47 metres, and Keisuke Ushiro of Japan won the decathlon.

South Korea won three out of four taekwondo golds, and beat China 1-0 in the women’s field hockey final. Kazakhstan took the men’s water polo gold.

Shi Tingmao won the women’s 1m springboard and He Chao took out the men’s equivalent as China progressed to six diving medals, four away from a perfect 10.

Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-Jae failed to inspire South Korea to team gold, but Asia’s leading exponent remained favourite for the individual title on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2014