(MENAFN- The Peninsula) After a record-breaking victory in the 100m race on Sunday, Femi Ogunode had vowed to also bag the 200m Asian Games gold - besides issuing a warning to Usain Bolt to watch out in next year's World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Ogunode delivered on the first part of his promise yesterday, completing a sprint double when he won the 200m in a Games record 20.14s, to add to his new Asian mark of 9.93sec in the 100m.
His effort gave Qatar their ninth gold medal, which equals the Gulf state's best-ever performance in the Asian Games that came in Doha in 2006.
Ogunode had clocked 20.86s in the semi-finals in the morning with all the other qualifiers finishing at over 21 seconds, thus giving an indication of things to come in the evening.
But even his rivals would have been stunned by the acceleration he achieved during the final stretch yesterday. In fact, second-placed runner Fahad Al Subaie of Saudi Arabia came in almost 10m behind Ogunode in 20.74s - his personal best. South Korea's Yeo Hosua claimed the bronze with 20.82s.
"I was confident about winning the sprint double at the Asian Games. Especially after my victory in the 100m, I was even more convinced about my
abilities," Ogunode said after breaking the Asian Games record of 20.25s held by Japan's Koji Ito since 1998. Incidentally, the 100m record of 10s which Ogunode broke on Sunday was also held by Ito.
It was also the second time that Ogunode won a double at the Asian Games, his previous effort coming in 2010 at Guangzhou where he won the 200m and 400m gold as a 19-year-old.
"I am happy that I managed to win two gold medals for
Qatar for the second time in my career," Ogunode said. "I am young and hopefully I will be able to do even better at future events."
Ogunode was earlier tipped to defend his 400m title, too, but opted out because it would have been too taxing to compete in three races.
However, the Qatari sprinter feels he could have done even better yesterday. "When I got to 50m, I missed the rhythm in my arms," he said.
"My aim was to go under 10s and under 20s. It didn't happen today but I know very soon it's going to."
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