ASIAN GAMES/Taiwan's pommel horse 'prince' Lee Chih-kai wins 2nd Asian Games gold

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Taiwan gymnast Lee Chih-kai (李智凱) and defending champion took gold in the men's pommel horse at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday, to retain the title he won in 2018.

The 27-year-old Olympic medalist, also known as the "prince of the pommel horse," won the gold medal in the men's pommel horse event with a score of 15.500, while Japan's Ryota Tsumura won the silver medal.

"I was so nervous, I was really stressed before my turn," said Lee to reporters, commenting on how much he wanted to defend his crown and challenge himself.

He added that he made some mistakes in the beginning so he quickly adjusted, and was surprised to get the same score as at the World University Games earlier this year.

Lee's next stop is the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships which take place in Belgium from Sept. 30 to Oct. 8. His goal is to reach the final so as to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

On Sept. 24, Lee helped Taiwan (competing under the name Chinese Taipei) win a bronze medal in the men's team event in artistic gymnastics.

Meanwhile, Lee also won gold in the men's pommel horse at the World University Games, which took place from July 28 to Aug. 8 this year, in Chengdu, China, successfully defending the title he won in Naples, Italy in 2019.

The 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games is taking place from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8.

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