Lao, Fukushima fastest man and woman

DINESH WEERAWANSA reporting from China

China's Yi Lao and Japan's Chrisato Fukushima emerged the fastest man and woman of the 16th Asian Games as they won their respective 100m finals under lights at Aoti Main Stadium here yesterday.

Lao, who did not have any major title under his belt until today's final,became an instant hero as he went like a bullet to win the men's 100m dash in 10.24 seconds. Even then, he had to survive a tense finish as Yasir Alnashri (10.26) and Oman's Barakat Al Harthi (10.28) were following him closely.

Defending gold medallist of the Doha 2006 Games Yahya Habeeb of Saudi Arabia could secure only the fifth place clocking 10.35. Veteran Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan ran a season's best 11.34 seconds in women's 100m final but that was not good enough for her to retain the gold medal at the last Asian Games in Qatar four years ago. Reigning Asian Championship gold medalist Fukushima (11.33) was one hundredth of a second ahead of Khubbieva as she survived a tense finish to take the gold medal.

Winning the bronze medal in women's 100m behind Khubbieva, was 2009 Asian Championship silver medallist Thi Huong Vu of Vietnam (11.43).

It was a dream come true for the Vietnamese lass who was placed fourth at the last 2006 Doha Asian Games.