Lin Yu-tang wins silver in men's long jump at Asian Championships

Gumi, South Korea, May 30 (CNA) Taiwanese long jump Olympian Lin Yu-tang (林昱堂) fell short of defending his title at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Friday, finishing second in the men's competition.

Lin, who won gold at the 2023 edition in Bangkok with a leap of 8.40 meters, posted his best jump of 8.20 meters in the fourth round and looked to be on course to retain his title until China's Shu Heng (舒衡) leaped 8.22 meters with his final jump of the event, overtaking Lin by 2 centimeters in a dramatic reversal.

Speaking to the media with a smile, Lin said, "In the past, I was usually the one making the comeback. (I) didn't expect to be on the receiving end this time."

"I really wanted to win back-to-back golds and become the first Taiwanese athlete to do that. Although I didn't succeed, it shows I'm capable of reaching that level."

Reflecting on the competition, Lin said the track is new, with great bounce. "I could feel it during the qualifiers, so today, I changed my run-up approach."

"My second jump was pretty good, and I continued adjusting after that."

Lin advanced to the final three jumps with a best jump of 7.84 meters in his first three attempts. After a brief rest, he soared 8.20 meters with his fourth jump to take the lead, but unfortunately his last two attempts were no jumps.

Since achieving 8.40 meters at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, the 25-year-old Lin has experienced ups and downs in the sport.

Sharing his thoughts, he said that reaching 8.20 meters this time suggests his training has been consistent.

"I have many people to thank. I've also learned how to bounce back when my performance drops. With this kind of experience, I'll only keep getting better. I'm determined to reclaim what I lost at the Asian Games," he said.

At the Hangzhou Asian Games, Lin placed fifth in the men's long jump with a mark of 7.91 meters.

Also on Friday, Team Taiwan claimed a bronze medal in the women's shot put, courtesy of Chiang Ching-yuan (江靜緣).

The 18-year-old threw 17.42 meters on her final attempt to secure third place.

On May 3, she set a national record of 17.83 meters at the Shizuoka International Athletics Meet -- also on her last throw.