Photo: VCG

As the Hangzhou Asian Games came to an end on Sunday, China secured the team gold medal in artistic swimming after ranking first in the team free routine, securing China's place at the top of the medal tally with a record 201 golds. 

Host country China bagged 383 medals in total. In addition to 201 gold, there were also 111 silver and 71 bronze. 

The hosts grabbed both artistic swimming golds up for grabs, as twin sisters Wang Qianyi and Wang Liuyi claimed the duet gold medal in artistic swimming on Saturday. In their jungle-themed performance, they excelled in both their technical and free routines with the highest degree of difficulty compared to other competitors. 

They finished the competition with a combined score of 526.8620, way ahead of silver medalists Mashiro Yasunaga and Moe Higa from Japan's total of 489.4288, and bronze medalists, Kazakhstan's Arina Pushkina and Yasmin Tuyakova, who scored a total of 418.6987. Their triumph led to the fifth artistic swimming duet gold in a row for China at the Asian Games.

As for the team gold on Sunday, China claimed the title with a dominating score of 868.9676. Japan scored 831.2535 to take the silver. Kazakhstan came third with 663.7417. With these victories, China secured a Paris 2024 Olympic qualification quota spot for the team event as well as the duet event.

"We are happy to win the gold medal at home and qualify for the Paris Games," said swimmer Feng Yu, who humbly added that at the same time, the team still has a lot of things to improve.

Notably, while male participants made their debut in the event at the 2015 FINA World Championships, this is the first Asian Games where male artistic swimmers were allowed to compete. Teams could have up to two male members. Male participants will also compete at the Olympic Games for the first time in Paris in 2024.

Shi Haoyu from China became the first man to win an Asian Games artistic swimming medal. On October 6, the 21-year-old Shi stood out during China's team acrobatic routine with his shiny sequined costume. 

"Men's participation can show the strength and masculinity of the other gender," said China's coach Zhang Xiaohuan. "I think it can also add more artistry to this sport." 

Shi agreed with Zhang, noting that male athletes are a great help to the improvement of the team lift movement. 

"It's not a sport exclusively for women. Male participants can bring in speed, strength and beauty as well to the game. I am happy to see there are more and more male participants joining the sport."

Shi took up artistic swimming by chance when a local team was recruiting male swimmers to compete in the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia. 

"They let me have a try, and a lot of other guys were also selected, but I was the only one who stuck it out in the end," he said.

There were just two men competing in artistic swimming in Hangzhou. Besides Shi, there was Thailand's Kantinan Adisaisiributr. 

A lot of Chinese female athletes are also breaking stereotypes. They train relentlessly and fight tough on the field, succeeding in sports. Meanwhile, they stay firmly in touch with their feminine side by wearing makeup, doing their nails and hair. They are showing how the new generation of women in China cannot be defined. 

And that's the main takeaway to the world by sending Shi and Adisaisiributr. The pair told media that they didn't feel alone at the Asian Games, because they have faith that more and more male participants will join the league soon in the future.