TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's track sensation BoYa Zhang (張博雅), affectionately known throughout the island as the "hurdle sweetheart," has clinched a coveted finals berth in the women's 100-meter hurdles at the prestigious Asian Athletics Championships on Wednesday (May 28) in Gumi, South Korea. Zhang's impressive 13.17-second performance in the preliminary round not only advanced her to the championship heat but also surpassed the qualifying threshold for the forthcoming Nagoya Asian Games, securing her place in the continental multisport competition.
In the men's competition, Taiwan's Kevin Lin (林翊凱) delivered a similarly strong performance, qualifying for the 110-meter hurdles finals with a time of 13.63 seconds. Lin's third-place finish in the opening heat narrowly eclipsed the Asian Games qualification standard of 13.65 seconds, earning him dual achievements with a single race. Fellow Taiwanese competitor Hsieh Yuan-kai (謝元愷) fell short of advancement, however, recording 13.85 seconds for a fourth-place result in his preliminary heat.
The delegation's success extends beyond the track events. Yu Ya-chien (余雅倩) captured a bronze medal in the women's hammer throw competition on Tuesday (May 27), launching her implement 64.25 meters and comfortably exceeding the 63-meter Asian Games qualification benchmark. These collective accomplishments underscore Taiwan's emerging strength in athletics competition across multiple disciplines. The island's sports enthusiasts now eagerly anticipate both the upcoming championship finals and their athletes' prospects at the Nagoya Asian Games.
Officials from the Chinese Taipei Athletics Association (CTAA, 中華田徑總會) — the governing body for track and field in Taiwan, which competes internationally under the name "Chinese Taipei" — highlighted the strategic importance of this championship meet. The competition serves as a direct qualification pathway to the Nagoya Asian Games, allowing standout performers like Zhang and Lin to confirm their participation without navigating additional qualifying events. This streamlined qualification process represents a significant advantage for Taiwan's elite track and field athletes. ◼
