By Eugene Han from Shanghai

The KIA X Games Asia 2008 opened with a flourish worthy of the action sports on show at the KIC Jiangwan Centre in Shanghai, China.

It was the tenth edition of X Games Asia and the second time it was held in Shanghai. There were also high expectations as a world-class field was prepared to be unleashed on an expectant public.

Mr Manu Sawhney, Managing Director of ESPN STAR Sports, was grateful for the local support shown at KIA X Games Asia.

“The KIA X Games Asia is the most prestigious and biggest action sport event in the region,” said Mr Sawhney.

He added: “We are proud to bring it back once again this year to one of the world’s leading sporting nation with a young and passionate audience that truly reflects the spirit of X Games – ‘Xpress without Limits’.”

As an appetiser to the events unfolding at X Games Asia, spectators were treated to monstrous and death-defying stunts by the Moto X riders in the center arena and also a Live concert conducted by the face of KIA X Games Asia – “GoGo Club’ who are a local celebrity boyband.

Women Speed Climbing

The competition started with the Women’s Speed Finals which pitted last year’s defending champion Evi Neliwaty against her compatriot and X Games Asia veteran Etti Hendrawati. The latter had just returned to competitive climbing after the birth of her son last year.

After progressing through the knock-out stages, the pair finally met in the final and it was Evi who came out tops again.

A very happy Evi told kiaxgamesasia.com the secret behind her win: "Training everyday. I just train hard and do it almost everyday. I take a break Tuesday and Saturdays. I don't have a special diet - I eat everything."

When asked if she would take part in the Olympics if Sport Climbing was included, she said without hesitation that she will represent her country as 'it's her dream".

But it was not a clean sweep of for the Indonesian team like last year – Chinese Li Chunhua – came in third to the delight of the local crowd.

BMX Park Finals

Most the crowd gathered around the Vert ramp for the BMX Park Finals which included a strong field. Chad Kagy returned to Shanghai to defend his title and he was up against the likes of Ben Snowden, Dennis McCoy and Koji Kraft. There was also the added pressure of going last of the field but Kagy did not disappoint. But he was pushed all the way by Kraft and Aussie Tim Wood who were both just a point and less behind the legendary biker.

AIL Park Finals

Not to be outdone, the third and last event of the day was the Aggressive-In-Line Park Finals which defending champion, Soichiro Kanashima, won in outstanding style last year. But the Japanese was up against the world-class duo of Nicolas Schopfer and Rian Arnold. Schopfer is a veteran of X Games Asia and he led the field after the Preliminary round while Arnold won the AIL Park title in 2005 in Seoul, South Korea.

After a close competitive final witnessed by a breathless crowd, Australian Rian Arnold skated home with the gold medal by coming in ahead of Schopfer and Kanashima respectively.

So, after an exciting first competitive day of KIA X Games Asia, the action will continue on Day Two. Be prepared to be blown away again!