SWIMMING AT THE 2018 ASIAN GAMES
- August 19th-24th, 2018
- Jakarta, Indonesia
- Schedule & Results
The Japanese team of Naito Ehara, Reo Sakata, Kosuke Hagino and Katsuhiro Matsumoto broke the Asian Games Record to win gold in the men’s 800 free relay to finish off day 2 finals in Jakarta, as they held off the Chinese team (7:05.47) in 7:05.15.
The swim broke their 2014 record of 7:06.74, with Hagino the only returning member from that team. Japan has now won this relay 16 times at the Asian Games, with the only non-Japanese win coming in 2010 when China claimed gold.
The race was fairly close early, but Hagino gave Matsumoto a bit of a lead heading into his anchor leg against Sun Yang. Matsumoto was very aggressive on the front-end, splitting 23.44 and 50.14 at the 50 and 100 walls, and managed to hold off Sun on the last 50 by just three-tenths.
Record Splits
- Naito Ehara – 1:47.31
- Reo Sakata – 1:46.51
- Kosuke Hagino – 1:46.50
- Katsuhiro Matsumoto – 1:44.85
Sun anchored China in 1:44.19.
Japan’s swim was much quicker than they were recently at the Pan Pacific Championships, where they won bronze in 7:08.07. Their 7:05.15 moves them ahead of European Championship medalists Great Britain (7:05.32), Russia (7:06.66) and Italy (7:07.58), and puts them 3rd in the world behind Pan Pac gold and silver medalists U.S. and Australia. Japan has never won a World Championship medal in this event and hasn’t won an Olympic medal in it since 1960.
The Singaporean team won bronze in 7:14.15, breaking their National Record. They were led by Zheng Wen Quah, who led them off in 1:48.31, and Joseph Schooling, who had a very impressive split of 1:46.66 swimming second.
Video of the race
https://youtu.be/WrFXWtpvZpE
1.44.19 relay anchor time, this is a lot faster than Sun’s individual 200 free. Perfect example how relay motivates people.
Japan (7:05.15) beat GBR time from Euro (7:05.32). The Chinese are also very close.
And USA and Australia times from Pan Pacs beat GBR time as well.
It will be tough for GBR to medal next year at Gwangju, let alone defend their Worlds title.
It will. A lot will rest on the big two. We know they have both previously split a lot faster than what we saw in Glasgow, but James guy can be quite hit & miss at big meets it seems. The positive this year for GBR is undoubtedly Thomas Dean and with his rate of improvement I have high hopes for another man capable of a 1.45 leg come 2020. I’d also say nobody looks away from the pack in the 4×200 right now and it will be tough for any team to medal.
Wow, Townley’s relay split was faster than Sun’s
But Haas didn’t swim 800 free on the same day.
Sun Yang just swam 800 (and won) in the same session!!
Men’s 200 IM final:
https://youtu.be/zqmriffW0Nw
Is schooling on for this meet? Maybe👀
He looked good actually. He must be, for Singapore and Asian countries in general, this is THE meet that matters after the Olympics.
I’m rooting for him really, he’s an incredible talent and if he could get back to 50.3 form it makes everything more interesting, if he’s 1:46.6 as well, could we see a 47.9 split? or quicker?
Anyone know the relay splits?
Japan
Naito Ehara 1.47.31
Reo Sakata 1.46.51
Kosuke Hagino 1.46.50
Katsuhiro Matsumoto 1.44.85
China
Ji Xinjie 1.47.58
Shan Keyuan 1.47.15
Wang Shun 1.46.53
Sun Yang 1.44.19
Wow – fantastic swim by Matsumoto !!
Japan
1:47.31 1:46.51 1:46.50 1:44.85
China
1:47.58 1:47.15 1:46.53 1:44.19
Singapore
1:48.31 1:46.66 1:49.23 1:49.95