— PHOTO: AP

THE MEDALLISTS: China's Xue Fei (left) won gold, Japan's Kayo Sugihara (center) took silver and India's P. Jaisha, the bronze in the women's 5000m.

DOHA: Shingo Suetsugu asserted Japan's supremacy over China in the 200 metres by winning the gold for the second time in the Asian Games at the Khalifa Stadium here on Monday.

With the Chinese Yang Yaozu unable to sprint at the end, Suetsugu defended his Busan gold by finishing 0.11 seconds ahead.

"I felt the race was like a flash. I had the confidence that I would win the gold medal. The wind was strong, but winning the race is the most important thing", said the Japanese.

Yang Yaozu said that he was happy with the start but disappointed with his finish. "He did a good job at the end", the Chinese acknowledged.

In an equally exciting women's 200 metres, Ruqaya Al Ghasara of Bahrain won the gold ahead of the 100 metres gold medallist Guzel Khubieva of Uzbekistan and Susanthika Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka.

"I deserved the 200m gold. I was the strongest and the best. I prepared psychologically and physically for this event", said Ruqaya who had to be content with the bronze medal in the 100 metres.

Emotional

Susanthika was quite emotional to win her second medal following the silver in the 100 metres.

"These two medals are like two gold for me. Nobody thought that I would be here. My mother had made an oath to the bodhi tree that I would take part in these Games. I did my best", said Susanthika.

There was a lot more joy for Bahrain as Yusuf Saad Kamel won the 800 metres gold medal. The son of two-time World champion Billy Konchellah proved his pedigree with an unbeatable kick in the last 100 metres that left the rest stranded in their tracks.

"I knew about my strength. I didn't panic when the others kicked at the 200 metre mark", said Kamel.

Earlier in the morning, world record holder and Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China literally walked away at the finish in winning his heats in the 110m hurdles with a 13.74.

Running hard

A bronze medal was added to the Indian collection from the women's 5000 metres, as O. P. Jaisha ran hard behind Xue Fei of China and Kayo Sugihara of Japan, with a timing of 15 minutes 41.91 seconds.

Two of the favourites Kayoko Fukushi of Japan and Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain were not in the race and that paved the way for an Indian to win a medal.

Navpreet Singh finished fourth in shot put with a 18.99, his personal best this season. He had won the Asian Championship silver last year with a 19.40 but could not recapture that form on a cold evening.

Vikas Gowda was unable to come anywhere near his personal best of 19.62 and finished seventh with a 18.09.

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