Japan admitted Friday hosts China were too strong at the Asian Games while their own bid to regain second in the medal table from South Korea was stalling with too many runner-up finishes.
Japan admitted Friday hosts China were too strong at the Asian Games while their own bid to regain second in the medal table from South Korea was stalling with too many runner-up finishes.
"China's gold medal count has topped 100 while Japan and South Korea have picked up silvers and bronzes here and there but struggled to get golds," Japan's delegation chief Noriyuki Ichira said.
"The thick wall of China is blocking not only Japan but also every other country," he added.
China have claimed more than 100 gold medals after six days of action while South Korea has barely a third of their total and Japan even less.
Japan's titles have come in swimming, judo, triathlon, billiard sports, rowing and soft tennis.
They came to Guangzhou hoping to finish second overall for the first time in 16 years.
After their long reign in the Asian Games, Japan were caught up by China in 1982 and then overtaken by South Korea in 1986 before a brief comeback at Hiroshima 1994.
Ichihara said Chinese athletes seemed to have trained hard.
"They are performing confidently without restraint, roared on by many spectators at venues," he said.
China have also recruited many foreign coaches to boost their national teams since before the 2008 Beijing Olympics "on the back of their economic development," he added.
"We have witnessed the spread of this trend through Asian countries."
At the Asian Games in Doha, China took 165 gold medals against 58 for South Korea and 50 for Japan.
Ichihara has said Japan would aim for 60 gold in Guangzhou.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
