CAPAS, Tarlac. – Japan had an impressive start at the 11th Asian Age Group Championships on Monday night, setting new meet records in nine of the 10 events it dominated at the New Clark City Aquatics Center here.
The Philippines’ best effort on opening day was fourth place in the girls 15-17 400m freestyle (Heather White) and the boys 12-14 50m backstroke and 200m IM (Jamesray Michael Ajido).
Yumeki Kojima won the boys’ 15-17 200m Individual Medley in 1:01.13, erasing the record of compatriot Hagino Kasuke (2:01.32) in 2009.
Vietnamese Quang Thuan Nguyen (2:04.79) and Japanese Raito Numata (2:05.98) finished second and third, respectively.
Kojima later led Japan’s 400m freestyle relay team to victory with a record-breaking time of 3:25.32. Other members of the team are Iyu Matsuyama, Raito Numata and Hirata Ando, who had earlier bagged the 400m freestyle gold medal.
In the 12-14 category, Shin Ohashi, Toya Hirata, Minami Yui and Mana Ishikawa delivered two gold medals each, and Misaki Kasahara had one.