ZCZC
BSP-05
ASIAD-2018-ATHLETICS-LEAD
Push claim as Asian Games marathon erupts in controversy
JAKARTA, Aug 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s Hiroto Inoue was accused of
pushing Bahraini runner Elhassan Elabbassi and denying him gold as
controversy overshadowed the end of the Asian Games marathon on Saturday.
Both athletes had complaints rejected by race officials after they made
contact during a thrilling sprint finish, which Inoue won by a fraction of a
second.
At the end of the 42-kilometre (26 miles) race through Jakarta’s streets,
two runners entered the stadium in Jakarta neck and neck, before Inoue opened
up a small lead.
In the final 100 metres, Elabbassi attempted to overtake on the inside but
fell back after apparent contact.
“The number one (leader) pushed me,” said Elabbassi. “I would have won.”
Speaking to reporters after the race, Inoue said he did not know what had
happened, but had been “surprised” by the contact.
The Japanese team later reported Elabbassi for attempting to overtake on
the inside when there was no gap.
Referee Vadim Nigmatov rejected both teams’ complaints to leave Inoue with
the gold medal. Each side has the right to appeal.
Elabbassi’s coach Gregory Kilonzo said his athlete had been deliberately
pushed by the Japanese athlete and “almost went down”.
“The Japan guy, when he saw he was almost overtaken, he decided to push,”
said Kilonzo.
Both athletes were credited with a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 22
seconds, with pre-race favourite Inoue crossing the line marginally ahead.
Duo Bujie, a Chinese athlete from Tibet who took to marathon running after
a childhood spent herding yaks, finished 26 seconds further back to take
bronze.
The winning time was the slowest at an Asian Games since 1982 in New
Delhi, as the runners struggled with Jakarta’s baking heat and stifling
humidity despite a 6.00am start time.
Tony Payne of Thailand, who placed eighth, said there was some confusion
before the start of the race, as the first athletics event of the Games
experienced some teething problems.
“They made us run for the start line because we were running a little bit
late,” said the New Zealand-born athlete.
“We were all walking down and they were like ‘Run! Run for the start’…
It was pretty hectic. They made us run an extra warm-up!”
Inoue’s win makes the Tokyo 2020 hopeful the first Japanese men’s marathon
champion since Hiroshima 1986, when Takeyuki Nakayama set the existing Games
record of 2:08:21.
The silver won by Morocco-born Elabbassi is Bahrain’s first medal of the
current Games.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1130 hrs