Chinese pole vaulter Li Ling registered a new Asian Record for indoor pole vault during the 2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships held at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar on Feb. 19, according to Xinhuanet.

The 26-year-old Puyang, Henan native won the Women's category of the said pole vault event with a clearance of 4.40 meters. After that, she made clearances of 4.50, 4.60, and 4.70 meters to set the new Asian record, adding 19 centimeters to her personal best in indoor competitions she had registered a year ago in Xianlin.

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"I was ready to jump 4.80m, but even 4.70m, a new absolute area record, is a very satisfying result," said the 5-foot11 Li, as per the IAAF's official website. "It was only my first competition indoors this year and I hope I will jump higher in Portland when it matters most. I am confident I can do better than that. I don't only want to be the tallest pole vaulter, but also the best."

Li's feat had also eclipsed the current outdoor pole vault record of 4.66 meters, which she had also set in June of last year during the 2015 Asian Athletics Championships in Wuhan, China.

China's Ren Mengxi placed second behind Li in the said event.

Li is one of the most popular athletes in China and had been competing since 2006. She first competed in the World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Beijing that year.

This year's Asian Indoor Athletics Championships is the seventh edition of the said competitions held biannually every February since 2004. The inaugural event was held in Tehran, Iran at the Aftab Enghelab Complex.

China leads the all-time medal count with 81 (40 golds, 22 silvers, and 19 bronzes), while Kazakhstan is second with 59 (20, 18, and 21) and Iran third with 58 (14, 21, and 23). Japan is a far fourth with 28 medals (11, 7, and 10). 

TagsChina sports, China athletics, Li Ling, pole vault, 2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships