Asian Games: Imura falls short in long jump, no gold for Japan in athletics

Japan's Kumiko Imura competes in the women's long jump event, at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

GUANGZHOU, China (Kyodo) -- Kumiko Imura had to settle for fifth place in her failed attempt to win a second consecutive Asian Games long jump title Tuesday as South Korea's Jung Soon Ok prevailed with a leap of 6.53 meters.
Japan ended the third day of athletics without a gold medal as Hiromi Takahari, Yuki Nakata and Masumi Fuchise came closest with silvers in the men's high jump, the women's heptathlon and the women's 20-kilometer walk, respectively.
Imura jumped 6.37 meters in her first and third attempts but fell shorter in her remaining three attempts at Aoti Main Stadium.
"I was in form coming into this event," the 29-year-old Beijing Olympian said. "I just couldn't perform the way I wanted to. I couldn't really control the speed of my run-up. I was slow sometimes, fast at others.
"I need to have the mental strength to do well in big events. Over the past few years, I even thought about retiring because I really struggled with my jump. But now I'm prepared to go through the rough. I know I can grow as a person and as an athlete."

Japan's Hiromi Takahari competes in the men's high jump event, at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

In the men's high jump, Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim took the gold by clearing 2.27 meters, while Takahari finished with 2.23 meters.
"I have mixed feelings of satisfaction and disappointment," Takahari said. "There was a jump I thought that I cleared 2.27 meters on."
In the women's heptathlon, Nakata had a total of 5,606 points for the silver. Yuliya Tarasova of Uzbekistan struck gold with 5,783.
In the morning session, Fuchise finished 28 seconds behind winner Liu Hong of China, who crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 30 minutes, 6 seconds, in the women's 20-km walk.
Yuka Murofushi, the younger sister of Athens Olympic hammer throw champion Koji Murofushi, was sixth in the women's discus throw.
Japan failed to qualify for Friday's final in the men's 4x100m relay after missing the handover between the second and third runners.
Japan had won a medal in the event in each of the past eight Asian Games.
"I just don't know how we made that mistake until we look at the video later," said Shinji Takahira, a member of the bronze medal-winning 4x100 relay team at the Beijing Olympics.
"I know I'm not supposed to make excuses, but we formed this team without proper preparation. We have to reflect on this disappointing outcome. If we want to accomplish something, we need to commit."

(Mainichi Japan) November 24, 2010