China is beyond reach at the top place in the Jakarta Asian Games (August 18-September 2) medals table with 71 gold medals while its closest follower Japan (in second place) has 34 gold, less than half of China.
With nine days before the games end, China will certainly add to its treasure trove and possibly double it. The seventh edition of Asian Games in 1974 in Tehran was China’s first presence in the continental tournament in which the East Asian nation finished third after Japan and Iran.
In 1978 Bangkok, China finished second after Japan and ever since 1982 China has emerged atop the medals table, increasing its medal count in every edition. Last time in 2014 Incheon, China won 151 gold medals.
Adding 49 silver and 29 bronze medals, China has bagged 149 medals so far this year. Japan has 31 silver and 43 bronze -- 108 medals in total.
South Korea has maintained its third position with 84 medals (25 gold, 26 silver and 33 bronze).
Iran trails the top three with 14 gold, 11 silver and nine bronze medals.
The host nation Indonesia is fifth with 10 gold, 12 silver and 16 bronze medals. Indonesia has always attended the Asian Games, from its first round in 1951 to the current 18th edition.
This is the second time Indonesia is hosting the games. The first time was in 1962 when the country finished second after Japan.
This time there is no place for Indonesia among the top three and it should battle for fourth place with Iran in the remaining days.
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