The competition intensified in Group B of Physical: Asia as Japan, Turkey, and Mongolia clashed in the first challenge of Quest 3. The Zigzag Hurdle Match, a test of speed and endurance, set the stage for an unpredictable battle, with Japan ultimately securing a hard-fought victory.
The Challenge and Early Struggles
The Zigzag Hurdle Match, also known as Pillar Vaulting, required two participants from each team to complete a total of 20 laps over a series of wide and high hurdles. The first team to finish would win the challenge and secure crucial points.
The race began with immediate difficulties for several teams. Team Japan’s Kana Watanabe confessed to a rocky start, finding it surprisingly hard to jump and becoming distracted as a gap grew between her and the other runners. For Team Mongolia, Khandsuren lost precious seconds when she forgot to press the button after finishing her first lap, causing her to panic. She later admitted the mistake left her out of breath and emotionally shaken.
Team Turkey started strong, with Ali Sofuoฤlu expressing a singular focus on winning. He stated, > “All we needed to focus on was winning. I didn’t care who my opponent was. All I cared about was getting over the obstacles as quickly as possible. That’s it.” His teammate, Nefise Karatay, found the height of the hurdles particularly frustrating. Turkey’s strong performance in the first leg put them ahead as the teams transitioned to their second participants.
A Close Finish and Round Two
The first round concluded with a dramatic finish. Team Japan’s Soichi Hashimoto was the first to complete his laps and grab the flag, securing first place for his team. The battle for second place came down to a close call between Mongolia and Turkey. Just as Team Mongolia’s Dulguun Enkhbat tripped from exhaustion, Team Turkey’s Nefise seized the opportunity to capture the second flag.
With Mongolia eliminated, the match moved to a second round between Japan and Turkey. The athletes, already tired from the first round, faced what Nefise described as “absolute torture.” She pushed through, later saying, > “I thought I was gonna faint.” The final leg saw Soichi Hashimoto and Ali Sofuoฤlu running for their teams. Hashimoto maintained a stronger pace, creating a significant gap and allowing Japan to win the round decisively.
The Turkish captain, Recep Kara, acknowledged Japan’s dominance, saying, > “Man, Japan’s incredible, Hashimoto’s a beast.” Hashimoto’s composure was key to the victory; he revealed, > “From the very beginning, I knew we’d be able to win this. I had my eye on that flag.”
Team Reactions and Emotional Aftermath
The aftermath of the challenge was filled with high emotions. Team Mongolia’s Khandsuren was seen in tears, blaming herself for the early mistake that cost her team. She said, > “It’s all my faultโฆ I completely let them down. My emotions were running high, and I just broke down in tears.”
Despite securing second place for Turkey, Nefise Karatay felt she had slowed her team down. Her teammates were quick to encourage her, highlighting her crucial recovery during the final sprint. The intense effort left her collapsed at the finish line, clutching the flag after the exhausting race.
Other Challenges in Quest 3
Quest 3 featured other demanding challenges that tested the teams in different ways. In the Totem Pole Match, teams had to hold onto heavy 13kg poles. However, a technical malfunction disrupted the game for Team Japan, forcing them to redo the challenge at a later time. With Japan out for that round, Team Turkey and Team Mongolia competed directly. Turkey’s Recep Kara and Yasemin Adar Yiฤit held on for over 16 minutes before losing their grip. Team Mongolia’s Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu and Adiyasuren Amarsaikhan delivered an astonishing performance, holding their poles for over 40 minutes to the applause of their fellow competitors.
The Hanging Endurance Challenge saw one member from each team suspended from ropes. Team Japan’s Nonoka Ozaki was the first to fall after 46 minutes. The contest continued for over an hour and fifty minutes between Team Turkey’s Anฤฑl Berk Baki and Team Mongolia’s Lkhagva-Ochir Erdene-Ochir, a circus acrobat for whom hanging ropes were a “second home.” The match ended when Anฤฑl accidentally touched a hand-grip with both hands against the rules, handing the win to Mongolia.
Group B Standings and Elimination
After all four games in Quest 3, the points were tallied. Team Turkey finished with the fewest points on the leaderboard and was eliminated from the competition. Before leaving, the Turkish athletes broke their torso moulds. Captain Recep Kara told his teammates, > “It was truly an honor to compete alongside you.” Team Philippines was also eliminated from Group A during this quest.
The results mean that Team Japan, Team Mongolia, Team Korea, and Team Australia will advance to the next round of the competition. All episodes of Physical: Asia, including the thrilling Group B matches in Episode 7, are available for streaming on Netflix.
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