CREATE TABLE table_204_706 (id DECIMAL, "year" DECIMAL, "competition" TEXT, "venue" TEXT, "position" TEXT, "notes" TEXT)

which competition did this person compete in immediately before the east asian games in 2001 ?
SELECT "competition" FROM table_204_706 WHERE "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM table_204_706 WHERE "competition" = 'east asian games' AND "year" = 2001) ORDER BY "year" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "competition" FROM "table_204_706" WHERE "year" < (SELECT "year" FROM "table_204_706" WHERE "competition" = 'east asian games' AND "year" = 2001) ORDER BY "year" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1