'Frog King' Kitajima down, but not out

Fading four-time Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima insists his defeat at the Asian Games was not in vain as a younger teammate took over the reins to spur Japan's gold medal hunt.

The 28-year-old Kitajima finished fourth in the 100m breaststroke, which was won by Ryo Tateishi, seven years his junior. Kitajima also finished fourth in the 50m the day before.

"Crownless? Kitajima in a pinch!" blared a headline in the Nikkan Sports daily Tuesday, a day after his hopes of a third straight Asian Games 100m-200m breaststroke double were shattered.