Takumi Hojo wins first gold of Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games for Japan

Hojo delivers Japan’s first gold on home soil

Japan made a winning start to its home Asian Games campaign as Takumi Hojo captured the men’s individual triathlon title, securing the first gold medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

The 30-year-old finished the race in 52 minutes and 56 seconds, edging China’s Zhang Xirui by nine seconds. Kazakhstan’s Arlan Zhanabay won bronze in 53:11, 15 seconds behind the Japanese champion.

Decisive push in the final run

The event consisted of a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre cycling leg and a five-kilometre run. Hojo exited the water in fourth place and slipped to fifth during the cycling section before making his decisive move on the final run.

He remained locked in a close battle with Zhang but pulled away during the closing stretch to claim a memorable victory in front of the home crowd. “I was really fired-up,” Hojo said, adding that he remained in top form through to the start of the race.

Hojo had also won the Asian Games test triathlon on the same course a year earlier. His victory earns qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Victory boosts Japan’s campaign

The result also gave Japan an early lift across the wider competition. “As it’s our first gold medal, it’s given the Japanese team a real boost,” Hojo said, expressing hope that the momentum would help the women’s team and Japan’s relay competitors.

Uzbekistan’s Aleksandr Kurishov, who led after the swim, eventually finished 20th after fading during the cycling leg. Swimming competitions also began at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre as action expanded across the Aichi-Nagoya Games.