Zhejiang University’s Xie Zhenye Strikes Gold in Men’s 100m at Asian Games
In the Men’s 100m final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, Chinese sprinter XIE Zhenye, a doctoral student at the Zhejiang University College of Education, blazed across the finish line in a mere 9.97 seconds, edging Thai runner-up Puripol Boonson (10.02) and Malaysia’s third-placed Muhd Azeem Fahmi (10.11). This remarkable victory marked XIE Zhenye’s second gold medal in his Asian Games career, cementing his legacy as the third Chinese sprinter to claim the men’s 100m gold at the Asian Games, following in the footsteps of LAO Yi and SU Bingtian.
This year’s Asian Games holds a profound significance for XIE Zhenye. Eager to dazzle spectators at his home Asian Games, he left no stone unturned in his quest for glory. His journey began with a blistering performance in the men’s 100m qualifiers, where he emerged as the fastest qualifier in 10.07 seconds. Undeterred, he carried this momentum into the semi-finals, once again clocking the fastest time at 10.03 seconds, setting a new personal best for the season, and securing his place in the much-anticipated men’s 100m final.
Behind this dazzling performance lay countless hours of perspiration, relentless starts, sprints, and finishes. XE Zhenye, who once set the Asian record with a phenomenal time of 19.88 seconds in the men’s 200 meters, faced immense pressure as he shifted his training focus to the 100 meters, aiming to lead Chinese sprinters to prominence on the world stage.
On his 30th birthday this August, he took to Weibo to reflect on his journey, remarking, “In my childhood, I yearned to be a ‘protagonist’ in a heroic story. With the passage of time, my childhood dream may have evolved, but I remain steadfast in pursuing my new aspirations and forging forward.”
“The Asian Games is held in our hometown, and this is very likely my last Asian Games. I will give my all to ensure that I have no regrets. Of course, I’m sprinting for the championship, and I would definitely be shattered if I fell short,” said XIE Zhenye prior to the Asian Games.
Once again, congratulations to XIE Zhenye! We hope that he will maintain his passion for athletics and continue to shine brightly for Chinese athletics. We also look forward to his outstanding performance in the upcoming men’s 4×100-meter relay race scheduled for October 2!