Hosts China and India grabbed two gold medals each on the first competition day of athletics at the Asian Games here on Sunday, with the other two split by Bahrain and Tajikistan.

World silver medalist Wang Hao grabbed the first track and field gold for China by winning the men's 20 kilometers title.

Wang dominated the race to clock one hour 20 minutes and 50 seconds for his season best and for the title. His compatriot Chu Yafei followed suit in 1:21:57 to take the silver, while the bronze went to South Korean Kim Hyunsub in 1:22:47.

"My result is not good enough," said the 21-year-old Wang, runner-up at 2009 Berlin worlds. "But it's my season best, so I am satisfied with it."

"I controlled the rhythm of the race and my teammate Chu cooperated with me very well," said Wang, who was China's third male athlete to win a medal in the history of the World Championships. "I am happy to win the first track and field gold, and I hope it will be a good start for China."

Wang said the gold medal was expected. "I trained really hard before the Asian Games, and there are not many rivals in Asia, so the race was not tough," he said. "My goal is to have good result at 2012 London Olympic Games."

Wang was bothered by a tibia injury since last year and only finished second in the 50km walk at the 2009 National Games.

"My leg hurts since the year and it did affect my result," said Wang, fourth at Beijing Olympic Games. "So I am not in my best form now. I will do some adjustment after the Asian Games."

The 25-year-old Li Ling also won a gold for China in the women's shot put. The defending champion grabbed the gold with her personal best 19.94 meters, while teammate Gong Lijiao, bronze medallist of Berlin worlds, took the silver in 19.67.

The bronze went to South Korean Lee Mi Young by 17.51.

"I improved a lot after training under Kirsten Hellier, a New Zealand coach," said Li. "Especially in my strength and skills."

However, the home crowd might be disappointed that the women's 10,000m gold was clinched by India, other than world marathon champion Bai Xue.

Bai, 21, who was being bothered by a foot injury, only managed an eighth finish in the race by clocking 32 minutes and 21.29 seconds, which was her season best.

India's Preeja Sreedharan overtook defending champion Kayoko Fukushi of Japan in the last lap to win the gold in a personal best 31:50.47, while her compatriot Kavita Raut took the silver in 31:51.44. The bronze went to Shitaya Eshete Habtegebrel of Bahrain, who finished in 31:53.27.

Bai seemed very upset, and only said: "I was not in good form" after the final.

Bai is one of the famous runners in China as she was the youngest ever women's world champion in marathon after winning the 2009 Berlin championships. She also put an end to Chinese women's 10-year-old gold drought at the worlds.

The gold medallist Sreedharan was reluctant to speak to reporters, by merely saying that "I didn't expect a gold. It's a magic."

India also won the women's 3,000m steeplechase by Sunil Kumar, who clocked her personal best of 9:55.67. Chinese Jin Yuan took the silver in 9:55.71, while the bronze went to Japan's Minori Hayakari in 10:01.25.

Bahrain won the men's 5,000m as Dejenee Regassa Mootumaa clocked in a season best 13:47.86. Qatar's James Kwalia C Kurui took the silver in 13:48.55, while his compatriot Felix Kikwal Kibore finished third in 13:49.31.

Tajikistan also pocketed a gold in the men's hammer throw as Alisher Eshbekov finished first in 76.44 meters. Iran's Kaveh Mousavi took the silver in 68.90, while Japanese Hiroaki Doi finished third in 68.72.

Monday will saw Athens Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China competing in the heat of the men's 110m hurdles, as well as the women's hammer throw, 100m and 400m, men's pole vault, 100m and 400m.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2010)