Balew strikes double gold

Bahrain star adds 5,000m crown as kingdom celebrates 13-medal athletics haul

TDT | Manama

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Birhanu Balew secured his second title of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya as Bahrain brought their athletics campaign to a medal-laden close.

The 30-year-old, who set the Asian and Bahraini 5,000 metres record of 12 minutes 45.70 seconds earlier this month, successfully defended his Asian Games title at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, crossing the line in 13:30.79 to complete his double after winning the 10,000m earlier in the Games.

Japan's Tomonori Yamaguchi took silver in 13:31.43, while India's Gulveer Singh claimed bronze in 13:32.75. Bahrain's Abdikani Hamid finished eighth in 14:02.19.

Balew's victory delivered the kingdom's 10th gold medal of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and took their overall haul to 18.

There was further success on the final day of athletics, with Nelly Korir and the women's 4x400m relay team both collecting silver.

Korir clocked 2:05.16 in the women's 800m final, finishing behind China's Wu Hongjiao, who won in 2:04.49. The Philippines' Victoria Bossong took bronze in 2:05.34.

The Bahraini had led through the opening lap before Wu moved ahead in the closing stages to take the title.

Silver Finish

Another medal followed in the women's 4x400m relay as Aisha Abdullah, Sufian Abdulghani, Zainab Fyofuoba and Salwa Naser combined for a time of 3:30.21.

India took gold in 3:29.69, just 0.52 seconds ahead of the Bahrainis, while China completed the podium in 3:31.02.

The mixed 4x400m relay brought the only disappointment of the day, with Ali Haji, Edidiong Odiong, Abdulraof Rashid and Hajar Alkhaldi unable to finish. China claimed gold ahead of Thailand and India.

The final-day haul of one gold and two silvers brought the curtain down on a memorable athletics campaign, with Bahrain finishing third in the sport's medal standings with nine gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Only China and Japan finished above the nationals, whose impressive showing was also highlighted by Winfred Yavi's historic three-gold haul.