HANGZHOU, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Marathon Swimming event of Hangzhou Asian Games commenced on Friday, with Chinese swimmer Wu Shutong winning the Women's 10-kilometer gold medal.

Wu Shutong (C) of Team China claims gold, Ebina Airi (L) of Team Japan wins silver, and Sun Jiake of Team China gets bronze in the Marathon Swimming Women's 10km, 6 October 2023.

The event, also known as Open Water Swimming, was introduced as an Olympic sport at the Beijing 2008. It has been contested for the first time at Asiad. A total of 13 athletes from eight countries and regions participated in the event.

Wu Shutong of Team China is in competition.

Wu, 18, successfully surpassed Japan's Airi Ebina in the final lap, clinching the gold medal with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 36.4 seconds.

Ebina Airi of Team Japan is in competition.

Sun Jiake of Team China is in competition.

Airi Ebina of Japan secured the silver medal, while Sun Jiake of China the bronze.

"I never expected to achieve such results before the competition. I didn't have any special tactics and just gave my utmost effort," said Wu.