The 3rd Asian Beach Games closed on Friday in Haiyang, east China's coastal city in Shangdong Province, passing the joy to Phuket, Thailand, the host city of 2014 games. Timothy Tsun-Ting Fok, vice president of Olympic Council of Asia, announced the closure of the games. "Haiyang has held a successful games and it will make a spectacular mark in the history of Asian Beach Games," said Timothy Tsun-TingFok.
In the 11-day events, 1,601 competitors from 45 countries and regions contested for 13 events, including wakeboard and tricks. A total of 49 gold, 49 silver, and 54 bronze medals were produced. The games ended up with host China leading the medal table by grabbing 14 gold, 10 silver, and 12 bronze. Thailand, the No.1 of 2nd games, took the second place with 13 gold, nine silver, and six bronze, while South Korea winning the third place by 6, 7, 10.
Conditions on Jiulong Lake (Nine Dragons Lake) were ideal when the 2012 Ski Nautique 200 CB pulled Seo Nana (KOR) on her first pass in the ten women trick finals. Fifth off the dock Saaya Hirosawa (JPN) improved on her first round performance with 3020 points as did 8-year old Aaliyah Yoong (MAS) with 2950. Sareeya Promsuntisit (THA) likewise improved with a score of 3280 to take the lead with just 3 skiers left. Third last off the dock Hiroko Komori tied the score of 3280 but with a better preliminary score took the lead over Promsuntisit securing at least the bronze medal. The young heir apparent Jiang Hui (CHN) put in a credible performance losing out again to Song Yufei?s (CHN), the defending champion, whose 5380 points gave her gold for the second time.
Padiwat Jaemjan aka ?Bomb? competing in both wakeboard and tricks put in a creditable score of 1960 points to kick off the men?s trick finals. Third off the dock ?Jumping Jimmy? Jeong Ji Min?s (KOR) score of 3180 set the benchmark. Maliki Zulkarnain (INA) improved on his first round with 3540, leaving him in a medal position when his Indonesian team mate Kadir Febrianto failed to beat this score. Second last skier Cho Beomgeun just fell short of Jumping Jimmy?s score with 3170 leaving the final skier China?s, Shi Longfei to do the business. There were anxious moments until his score of 4410 flashed up on Swiss Timing?s scoreboard.
Japan missed the event two years ago in Muscat but were in good form, with two women skiers and a woman wakeboard rider through to the finals. Unfortunately Miku Asai?s fall on her first wakeboard pass left the door wide open for the two Chinese women Chen L ili and Han Qui to win medals. Han Qui?s Moby Dick and Tantrum to Blind and score of 67.89 gave her the edge over Lili?s 57.78. Singapore?s hopes lay on Sasha Christian?s shoulders, whose score of 53.67 left her in 3rd place.
Jung Insang?s score of 70.02 set a high benchmark for the remaining last five men wakeboard finalists to achieve behind the 2012 Super Air Nautique 210. Third off the dock Ji Hoon (KOR) raised the bar further to 73.8m, which
neither Lin Xiaojun (CHN) nor the penultimate skier Hong Kong?s Julien Breistroff could emulate. Last off the dock Tatsanai Kuakoonrat pulled of an intense but smoothly executed run rising to the occasion to score 79.23 and capture gold.