Kuno wins Asian Para Games men's 100m T12 gold with second straight Asian record
In short
Ryutaro Kuno (久野竜太朗) won the men's 100m visually impaired T12 final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in 10.85 seconds, an Asian record. It improved the 10.88 Asian record he set in the heats the day before.
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Ryutaro Kuno (久野竜太朗) won the men's 100m visually impaired final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in 10.85 seconds, an Asian record, NHK reported on 21 October. It was the second consecutive day on which he broke the Asian record. Mainichi, reporting on the T12 final, said Daiki Ishiyama (石山大輝) of Toyota Motor closed on him at the end but Kuno held on. [ 2 , 3 ]
In the heats on 20 October, NHK reported, Kuno ran 10.88, an Asian record. Mainichi and Yomiuri both said the final time improved on that mark by 0.03 seconds. Mainichi said that Kuno, competing at his first Asian Para Games and representing Simplex Holdings, pulled clear of the field immediately after the start. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Both Mainichi and Yomiuri said Kuno appeared dissatisfied despite the gold. Mainichi quoted him as saying he had meant to lower the record further and was frustrated. Yomiuri quoted him as saying his legs drifted at the end and he may have wasted strength, and said he had been aware of Ishiyama, who is strong in the second half of a race. [ 2 , 4 ]
Mainichi said Kuno was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in childhood and that his symptoms worsened after he left high school and started work. Yomiuri described the condition as a progressive illness that narrows the field of vision, and said he quit his job and entered a special support school. Both outlets said that seeing children there absorbed in sport, and in Mainichi's account in music as well, prompted him to take on a new challenge. [ 2 , 4 ]
Mainichi said Kuno began athletics in earnest in 2023 and that in his first race he finished more than 10 metres behind Japan's top athletes. Yomiuri said he trained in his home prefecture of Aichi, won silver at last year's world championships and came to these Games determined not to lose in Asia. It put his competitive career at about three and a half years. Yomiuri quoted him as saying he can run faster and is weak under pressure in that sense. [ 2 , 4 ]
Mainichi said the world record in Kuno's class is 10.42, so the gap is not small. It said the 27-year-old states that he intends to win at the Los Angeles Paralympics in two years. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The documents present Kuno, 27, as a rising Para athletics figure who says he intends to win at the Los Angeles Paralympics in two years. Mainichi notes his time is still behind the class world record of 10.42.
Key facts
- Kuno won the men's 100m visually impaired final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in 10.85 seconds, an Asian record. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- He had set an Asian record of 10.88 in the heats the previous day, and the final time improved it by 0.03 seconds. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Mainichi said Daiki Ishiyama (石山大輝) of Toyota Motor closed on Kuno at the end, but Kuno held on. [ 2 ]
- Kuno is a silver medallist from the world championships. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Mainichi said it was Kuno's first Asian Para Games, and that the class world record is 10.42. [ 2 ]
- Mainichi said Kuno took up athletics in earnest in 2023; Yomiuri put his competitive career at about three and a half years. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- How long Kuno has competed. Mainichi says he started athletics in earnest in 2023 and calls it just over three years; Yomiuri says about three and a half years.
- Whether Ishiyama challenged Kuno late in the race. Only Mainichi describes Ishiyama closing at the end; Yomiuri says Kuno was conscious of Ishiyama's strong second half.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- NHK reported that Kuno ran 10.88, an Asian record, in the heats (published 20 October). [ 1 ]
- Mainichi published its report of Kuno's gold in the final with 10.85 (21 October). [ 2 ]
- NHK reported that Kuno won gold with 10.85, breaking the Asian record for a second consecutive day (21 October). [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri published its report on the final (22 October). [ 4 ]