Kyrgyzstan has hosted the Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships ©World Triathlon

Japan's Sarika Nakayama and Daryn Konysbayev of Kazakhstan claimed the respective women's and men's titles at the Asia Triathlon Sprint Championships in Kyrgyzstan.

The medals in both races at the event in Cholpon-Ata were shared between the two countries.

Nakayama completed the sprint course, comprising a 750 metres swim, 20 kilometres bike and 5km run, in a time of 1 hour 03min 12sec to top the podium.

The Japanese athlete, ranked 69th in the world and fourth in Asia, finished nine seconds clear of nearest challenger Ekaterina Shabalina of Kazakhstan.

Japan's Sarika Nakayama won the women's elite race ©World Triathlon
Japan's Sarika Nakayama won the women's elite race ©World Triathlon

Nakayama's team mate Chisato Nakajima rounded off a successful competition for the Japanese team as she took bronze, a further 90 seconds adrift.

In the men's race, Konysbayev defeated the rest of the field with a commanding display in the three disciplines.

The Kazakh world number 115 clocked 55min 53sec to beat Kyotaro Yoshikawa and deny Japan a clean sweep of the gold medals on offer at the Championships.

Yoshikawa took silver in 56:44, while the bronze medal went to Ayan Beisenbayev of Kazakhstan.