High jumper Wang raises the bar on Olympic ambitions

XI'AN, Shaanxi－Wang Yu won the men's high jump at the test competition for China's 14th National Games here on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old, however, told Xinhua he was not satisfied with a winning leap of 2.24 meters and is now aiming to finish the season with an unbeaten record.

After clearing 2.15m, 2.20m and 2.24m, Wang raised the bar to 2.30m, but failed at that height.

Wu Guobiao tied Wang Zhen for second place, both clearing 2.20m.

"I am not satisfied with the result, I almost cleared the 2.30. It was a shame," the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist said.

In the men's pole vault, Yao Jie took the spoils with a leap of 5.50m. Han Tao tied Yao, but ended up in second place by virtue of having more failed attempts.

Song Haoyang, who beat Yao at the 2020 Chinese Athletics Street Tour, finished third with 5.15m.

"Something felt wrong with my leg muscle, that's why I chose to exit when I had won the event," Yao said. "I have kept improving recently, but some good pole vaulters from Shandong and Guangdong didn't take part in this competition. I expect to compete with elites from all over the country at the upcoming National Games."

Zhu Yaming clinched the men's triple jump title with a distance of 17.07m. Wu Ruiting took second place after marking 16.84m, while Xu Xiaolong was third with 16.60m.

However, Fang Yaoqing, who will compete at the Tokyo Olympics along with Zhu and Wu, couldn't find his form and finished seventh, with 15.94m.

In the women's javelin, Asian record-holder Lyu Huihui launched a winning throw of 65.71m.

China's newly naturalized athlete Zheng Ninali won the women's heptathlon with 6,153 points.

As well as being as a test event for September's National Games, this week's action is a tune-up for Team China's Tokyo Olympians.

Xinhua