Easy victory in Hong Kong but it gets a whole lot tougher for Chinese sprinting star Su Bingtian who takes on world’s best in Shanghai
The mainlander cruises to his first win of the season but has his work cut out in his homeland where Gatlin and De Grasse awaits
Chinese superstar sprinter Su Bingtian came, saw and conquered as he easily accounted for his rivals in winning his first 100 metres race of the season at the Hong Kong championships in Wan Chai Sports Ground on Sunday.
Watched by a crowd of more than 1,000 on a warm, sunny day, China’s fastest ever man made no mistake as he outclassed a group of home sprinters to win the race in 10.28 seconds, outside his personal best, but good enough to equal the course record set by local runner Tsui Chi-ho in 2010.
Su has twice run 9.99 seconds in 2015 and he indicated on Sunday that he’s aiming to break his personal best, beginning with this week’s Diamond League in Shanghai, where the quality of his opponents will be way better. Think top-class.
He faces a tough battle against some of the best runners in the world in Shanghai. The list includes Rio Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin, of the United States, and Rio bronze medallist, Andre de Grasse, of Canada. Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev and Japanese record holder Yoshihide Kiryu – two other sub-10 runners – are also down to run.
“I reached my pre-race target,” said the Chinese sprinter, who competed in Hong Kong just days after saying he wouldn’t because of a foot injury. “I’m happy with my performance today and met the target set out by my coach Randy Huntington,” he added. Ng Ka-fung was second in the race, clocking 10.40 seconds and third was Tsui Chi-ho in 10.59 seconds.