Bahrain runner Rose Chelimo won the country’s first gold in the women’s marathon at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on Sunday.
Previously, Bahrain had pocketed two silver medals from runners Elabbassi Elhassan in the men’s marathon and Chumba Eunice in the women’s 10,000 meters.
Chelimo finished the 42.195-kilometer marathon at the Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) in two hours, 34 minutes and 51seconds, followed by Japan’s Nogami Keiko with a time of two hours 36 minutes and 27 seconds.
DPR Korea runner Kim Hye-song settled for bronze after reaching the finish line in two hours 37 minutes and 20 seconds.
The three medalists’ times are still far behind Asian Games’ long-standing record of two hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds set by Japanese runner Takanashi Nauko in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1981.
The women's marathon saw 19 runners from 12 countries. Indonesian runner Triyaningsih failed to participate in the marathon due to injuries.
Indonesia Athletics Federation (PASI) secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said the federation had canceled Triyaningsih’s participation after receiving a recommendation from a team of doctors.