Yuanjiang Chen blazes to 110m hurdles gold at the 20th Asian Games Nagoya 2026

The track and field competitions at the in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, reached a spectacular peak at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium during the men’s 110-meter hurdles final. In a high-octane race characterized by flawless technical execution and intense regional rivalries, China’s rising hurdle star Yuanjiang Chen captured a magnificent gold medal in an elite time of 13.15 seconds.

From the instant the starter’s gun fired, the short-sprint hurdle final unfolded as an absolute masterclass in rhythm, power, and precision. Chen, running out of the central lanes, exploded over the first three barriers to establish a razor-thin advantage. While sprinting between the 42-inch hurdles requires a delicate balance of raw aggression and technical cleanliness, Chen remained remarkably fluid. As he entered the second half of the race, he held his nerve under immense pressure to stretch his lead down the home straight, securing an iconic victory and solidifying his status as the new king of Asian hurdling.

“I’m thrilled. We’ve taken this gold medal back”, said Yuanjiang Chen, who shouted, “Who is the first? China!” as he crossed the finish line.

While Chen took top honors, he was pushed hard by Japan’s premier title contender Rachid Muratake, who secured a phenomenal silver medal in an impressive 13.29 seconds. Muratake executed a beautiful technical race, matching Chen’s intensity over the middle markers. Backed by the roaring hometown spectators, his rapid clearance of the final two hurdles triggered a frantic dash to the tape, falling just short of the gold but earning a well-deserved spot on the podium for the host nation.

The race for the final podium spot provided plenty of drama as the Philippines’ standout athlete John Cabang secured the bronze medal, stopping the clock at 13.48 seconds. Cabang, known for his excellent acceleration, bounced back well from a slightly conservative start to claw his way back into medal contention. Utilizing his speed-endurance over the closing barriers, he held off a charging pack to book his spot at the medal ceremony, marking a massive milestone for his national athletics program.

Finishing just outside of the medal positions was Chinese Taipei’s promising talent Yuan-Kai Hsieh, who crossed the line in fourth place with a highly competitive time of 13.55 seconds. Hsieh ran an incredibly clean race from the outside lanes, keeping himself firmly within striking distance of a medal up until the final ten meters, where Cabang’s strong closing momentum narrowly denied him a podium finish.

Rounding out the elite top five was Qatar’s rising hurdler Oumar Doudai Abakar, who completed the high-stakes sprint in a solid 13.67 seconds. Running against a field loaded with established continental stars, the young Qatari athlete showed remarkable composure over the barriers, fighting hard through the line to secure a top-five finish that bodes incredibly well for his country’s future international campaigns.

Ultimately, the evening belonged to Yuanjiang Chen, whose combination of raw speed and technical poise earned him the title of Asian Games champion. As the athletic events in Nagoya head toward their conclusion, the men’s 110m hurdles final will be remembered as a classic demonstration of high-speed technical sprinting at its absolute finest.