Home hero Ichitaka Yamashita claims men’s Asian Games marathon gold in rainy Nagoya
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Ichitaka Yamashita crossing the finishing line to win gold in the men's marathon final of the 2026 Asian Games at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, on Sept 26.
PHOTO: AFP
NAGOYA – Japan’s Ichitaka Yamashita bided his time before surging to a commanding Asian Games marathon gold on Sept 26, thrilling home fans lining the streets on a wet morning in Nagoya before Shitaye Eshete rolled back the years to win the women’s race for Bahrain.
Nagasaki native Yamashita delivered Japan’s seventh men’s marathon title at the Games after allowing his rivals to do the hard work at the front before a decisive move.
Part of a six-man breakaway at the halfway mark, Yamashita stayed tucked behind North Korea’s Hangzhou silver medallist Han Il Ryong and India’s Sawan Barwal as they set the pace with 10km remaining.
As Han and Barwal began to fade, Yamashita struck and powered clear to the finish at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in 2hr 10min 49sec, 48 seconds clear of Barwal, who posted a personal best.
“While the runners from China and India were taking turns leading the pack, I was hardly doing any of the leading myself. So I felt a bit apologetic,” Yamashita said.
China’s Feng Peiyou produced a late burst to snatch bronze from Han.
Japan threatened a sweep of the marathon titles when Mikuni Yada challenged in the women’s race despite a tumble on the track after clashing with another runner.
But 36-year-old mother of three Eshete proved too strong and claimed gold 16 years after her 10,000m bronze in Guangzhou.
China’s Cuomu Ciren finished narrowly behind the Bahraini for silver, with Yada taking bronze.
“Maybe it is the time to stop. I am 36 years old,” said Eshete.
“But my target for my last competition is the (2027) world championships... I have three babies and my second, he said, ‘Mama, don’t run’. He wants me at home. But now he will be very happy.” REUTERS