On the same day in which was held in La Coruna the XXIX edition of Cantones which saw the splendid result of the women's race with a new world record of Liu Hong (1:24:38) in Singapore continued with race walk (first day of the athletics program) the Southeast Asian Games involving these 11 countries: Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam.

Not a massive participation, but interest in race walking is also alive in this part of South East Asia, so far from our way of thinking.

20 km men

The victory went to the athlete of Indonesia Hendro (remember that in Indonesia the names are indicated with only the one of family, and that only for acts of EDP sometimes the surname is duplicated and becomes even the name) with the time not great for us of 1:34:23: he led the race from the second of the sixteen laps.

The record of the Games of Southeast Asia's of the Malaysian Harbana Sing Narinde (1:29:13) obtained in Jakarta on 14.10.1997 remained unbeaten.

The silver medal went to the Vietnamese Xuan Vinh Vo who finished the race in 1:38:38, while the bronze went to the Malaysian Khairli Harith Muhammad Harun (1:40:57).

Even the technical level was not similar to what we are accustomed to: the eight starters, three were disqualified.

A percentage for us unthinkable, but which also indicates with which fatigue level of these new countries are facing to a specialty technique so as race walk.

20 km Women

The women's race was a bit more fought with the lead changes during the first half of the race until after the ninth lap went to lead the Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Thanh Puch who then won gold in 1:45:20

In second place was the athlete of Mianmar Than Than Soe in 1:46:57, while the bronze went to another Vietnamese Thi Bich Ha Phan who raced in 1:48:23.

As also it happens in competitions of the highest interest, to the Southeast Asian Games there is from technical point of view a women competition better than men: of the six athletes at the start none were disqualified.