China’s 17-year-old sprinter Chen Yujie set a new standard at the Asian Games by winning the women’s 100-meter final in a Games-record time of 11.06 seconds in Nagoya on Friday. The victory marked a significant milestone for the teenager, who will turn 18 in December, and signals her emergence as a leading figure in Asian sprinting.

Chen described the win as “the best present” for her upcoming birthday and expressed ambitions extending well beyond the regional competition. “Now I am the champion of the Asian Games and I want to achieve more on the international stage, at the World Championships and at the Olympics,” she said. She also highlighted her desire to defend her title in future Games, shifting her focus toward setting the pace rather than responding to rivals. “I am now in the position of challenging someone else, instead of waiting to be challenged by others,” Chen added.

In addition to the 100m, Chen is scheduled to compete in the 200m event at the same Games. Chinese media outlets have celebrated her performance as potentially ushering in a new era for Chinese women’s sprinting, a discipline in which China has yet to claim Olympic gold. The official Olympic website referred to Chen as a “new sprint star” and emphasized her goal of leaving a lasting impact on both Chinese and Asian athletics.

Despite her confident remarks, Chen revealed in a post-race interview that she experienced considerable nerves prior to the final. “When I was on the training track my legs were shaking,” she said, noting fears that could have resulted in a false start. Chen ultimately finished ahead of Singapore’s Shanti Pereira, a two-time Olympian and 30-year-old competitor, by a margin of 0.15 seconds. Chen had previously bested Pereira in the 200m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.

With her recent success and clear ambitions, Chen Yujie has positioned herself as a sprinter to watch as she continues to develop on both the Asian and world stages.