Rashid Mohamed from Bahrain grabbed the men's 800m gold in one minute and 47.12 seconds at the Busan Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Mohamed, 20, took the lead only 100 meters to go and maintainedhis advantage to the finish line. Before today's game, Mohamed's best result in the recent two years was 1:48.67.

Mohamed said that "I was in my best form today. I planned to collect this gold before the final and I made it. I am very happy now."

"This is also my best result, and I contributed the first gold to Bahrain's Asiad athletic team."

Kalatathum Kuzhiyil Mathew from India took the silver in 1:47.57, while Li Huiquan from China garnered the bronze in 1:47.77.

It was the first time for the Chinese Li, only 17, to attend high-level international games. He entered the final as the ace inthe heat competitions. In the final this afternoon, Li stormed back from the eighth place only 100 meters to go to the third in abrilliant sprint.

Li said that "in the last 200 meters at the curve, I was pushedand knocked by others, which affected my tempo. But I did everything I could in the last 60 meters and got the bronze. "

"Before the final, I expect to win at least a silver,"

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2002)