Taiyuan-born athlete Ma Yanan secured two gold medals in canoeing at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, which concluded on October 4. The 27-year-old competitor triumphed in both the women’s 500-meter double canoe and the mixed 500-meter double canoe events, anchoring a strong performance by the delegation from Shanxi Province.
Shanxi Athletes Secure Four Golds and Two Bronzes
Shanxi sent seven athletes to compete across martial arts, canoeing, swimming, and judo events at the Nagoya Games. Those competitors combined for four gold medals and two bronze medals. Alongside Ma Yanan’s dual victories, wushu competitor Yao Yang won gold in the women’s jianqiangquan all-around event. Swimmer Yang Chang contributed a gold medal in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay and a bronze in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke. Wu Hongtao added a bronze medal in the judo mixed team competition.
China Dominates the Nagoya Medal Table
The Chinese sports delegation fielded 815 athletes at the 20th Asian Games, finishing at the top of the medal standings for the 12th time. Chinese competitors accumulated 169 gold medals, 89 silver medals, and 83 bronze medals, setting a new record for gold medals won at an Asian Games held outside of mainland China.
Tying Shanxi’s Historical Record
Ma Yanan’s victories bring her career Asian Games gold medal total to three, tying the all-time record for gold medals won by a Shanxi athlete at the games, matching the historic three consecutive titles secured by former trampoline standout Dong Dong from the 16th through the 18th Asian Games.
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