China’s Su Bingtian becomes first Asian-born to run sub-10 100m
HT City
China's Su Bingtian became the first Asian-born athlete to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds when he finished third in the Diamond League meeting in Eugene on Saturday.
The 25-year-old clocked 9.99 seconds in the race won by American Tyson Gay in 9.88.
“I am so proud for my result. I can write my name into history now and will work harder and run faster,” Su told Xinhua. “This is definitely a huge boost for me.”
Su's time is not the fastest by an Asian athlete, however, with Qatar's Femi Ogunode having I’M NOT EXPENDABLE JUST BECAUSE I’M A WOMAN: PRIYANKA clocked 9.93 at the Asian Games in South Korea last year on his way to a sprint double.
Ogunode, though, was born in Nigeria but moved to the Gulf state in 2009 and became a naturalised citizen a year later, in time to race at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, where he won the 200m and 400m titles.
Japanese teenager Yoshidie Kiryu ran a wind-assisted 9.87 at a meeting in Texas in March. Su’s compatriot Zhang Peimeng had held the previous fastest time for an Asian-born athlete with the 10.00 flat he clocked at the 2013 worlds in Moscow, and Su hoped they would be able to replicate that at this year’s worlds in Beijing: “In Moscow, Zhang Peimeng was ranked ninth with 10 seconds, which made me feel that we are very close to entering the top eight and beating 10 seconds. I hope in this year's world championships, I can work some miracles for my country in 100m and 4x100m relay.”
Alberto Contador clinched his second Giro d’Italia title on Sunday, remaining on course to become the first cyclist since 1998 to win the Italian classic and the Tour de France in the same year. The Spaniard had all but secured the win after Saturday’s 20th stage when he saw his lead cut in half but nevertheless headed into the final day with more than a twominute advantage on Fabio Aru. Contador ended up winning by 1 minute, 53 seconds.