Saito’s best effort went out to 61.67 metres.

Liu was forced to settle for silver with 61.51 and bronze for Dilhani Lekamge in a new Sri Lankan national record of 60.93m.

Mariko Morimoto won the triple jump with 14.06m.

Silver went to China’s Zeng Rui with 14.01m, while bronze went to Nguyễn Thị Hường of Vietnam with 13.68m, 

Earlier this year she also won bronze at the Southeast Asian Games.

Ren Tawaza of Japan came home to win the 10,000 metres in 29min 18.44sec.

Silver went to Shadrack Kimutai Koech, originally from Kenya but now representing Kazakhstan, in 29:31.63.

Abhishek Pal’s 29:33.26 gave him bronze for India’s first medal of the Championships.

World under-20 gold medallist Nozomi Tanaki posted a championship record of 4:06.75 to win the women’s 1500 metres ahead of fellow Japanese athlete Yume Goto in 4:13.25.

Sri Lanka’s Gayanthika Artigala claimed bronze in 4:14.39.

The host nation also had a gold medal to cheer on the first day, which came in the men’s 4x100 metres.

Thailand's quartet of Natawat Iamudom, Soraoat Dapbang, Chayut Khongprasit and Puripol Boonson won in 38.55 seconds, ahead of China who took silver in 38.87. 

Bronze went to South Korea in 38.99.

China’s first gold of the Championships came in the women’s 4x100 metres.

Liang Xiaojing, Wei Yongli, Yuan Qiqi and Ge Manqi brought the baton home in 43.35. 

Japan claimed silver in 43.95, with bronze going to Thailand in a time of 44.56. 

The Asian Athletics Championships are due to continue until Sunday (July 16).