In the fresh morning in Nomi on a classic 2km circuit it took place the 2017 edition of the Asian 20km Race Walk Championships.
Asian Championships events
20km men
Immediately goes in to lead the home athlete Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) passing the 5km in 19:34.
Behind him Hyunsub Kim (KOR) which has a personal best of 1:19:13 on the distance obtained here in Nomi on March 15, 2015 finishing fifth in the day when Yusuke Suzuki (JPN) established the world record (1:16:36).
Towards the seventh kilometer, the couple walks together and split time to 10 km is 39:34 (partial Yamanishi to 20:00 and 19:51 to Kim).
Behind them passes at half race Irfan Kolothum Thodi (IND) in 39:55 (19:51 + 20:04) together with the teammate Devender Singh (IND) who competes in the 20km open and not in that of the Championship.
There is still little behind Georgiy Sheiko (KAZ) in 40:04 (19:54 + 20:10).
At about 13km Hyunsub Kim (KOR) force the pace and begins to gain meters of Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN).
They pass at 15km in: Hyunsub Kim (KOR) in 59:40 (20:06 between 10th and 15th) and Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) in 1:00:03 (20:29 between 10th and 15th).
The Japanese appear fatigued and not as brilliant as Kobe and its lead over Georgiy Sheiko (KAZ) and Kolothum Thodi Irfan (IND) is just 24", but also Kolothum Thodi is suffering because he walked the last 5km in 20:33 compared with 20:23 of Sheiko.
Shortly after them Devender Singh (IND) passes in 1:00:31 (19:51 - 20:04 - 20:36)
Hyunsub Kim (KOR) continues to victory quite easily and regularly (20:10 between 15th and 20th) and finishes the race in 1:19:50.
Revolutionized the arrival for the other two medals.
With the last 5km in 20:10 he won the silver surprisingly Georgiy Sheiko (KAZ) in 1:20:47
Third place went to Irfan Kolothum Thodi (IND) in 1:20:59 (20:10 between 15th and 20th) not too far from the personal best of 1:20:21 obtained at the London Olympic Games.
The last 5km (21:20) are fatal to Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) who finished fourth in 1:21:23.
Shortly after him Devender Singh (IND) in 1:21:38 won the open race.
Nomi is the lucky city for Hyunsub Kim. In fact, every time the Korean athlete has competed here at the Asian 20km race walking Championships he has always achieved the podium and often improved thepersonal best: the only thing that today the 31 year old athlete is not able to improve.
20km women
As it was in the forecasts the victory went to Wang Na (CHN) in 1:30:51
The Chinese athlete has been in the lead from the start and clocked 2:30 less of the second arrived.
Her was a race without much straining. Here in Nomi last year she had established the personal best in 1:28:21.
Below her split times
- 5km: 22:41
- 10km: 44:56 (22:15)
- 15km: 1:07:40 (22:44)
- 20km: 1:30:51 (23:11)
Second place to Kumiko Okada (JPN). The home athlete has completed the race in 1:33:21.
Below her split times
- 5km: 22:48
- 10km: 45:39 (22:51)
- 15km: 1:09:03 (23:24)
- 20km: 1:33:21 (24:18)
The bronze to Yeongeun Jeon (KOR) in 1:34:35.
Fourth place to Pryyanka (IND) in 1:37:42.
All Japan Championships events
20km men
Victory to Daisuke Matsunaga (JPN) in 1:19:40 first also in open race.
Below her split times
- 5km: 19:24
- 10km: 39:18 (19:54)
- 15km: 59:25 (20:07)
- 20km: 1:19:40 (20:15
Second place to Tomohiro Noda (JPN) in 1:20:04, third in open race
Below his split times
- 5km: 19:51
- 10km: 39:43 (19:52)
- 15km: 59:52 (20:09)
- 20km: 1:20:04 (20:12)
Third place to Tajumi Saito (JPN) in 1:20:56, fifth in open race
Below his split times
- 5km: 19:52
- 10km: 39:48 (19:56)
- 15km: 59:54 (20:06)
- 20km: 1:20:56 (21:02)
20km women
Victory to Chiaki Asada (JPN) in 1:32:12 second in open race.
Below his split times
- 5km: 22:56
- 10km: 45:51 (22:55)
- 15km: 1:09:03 (23:12)
- 20km: 1:32:12 (23:09)
Second pplace to Yuki Yoshizumi (JPN) in 1:32:23, third in open race
Below his split times
- 5km: 22:56
- 10km: 45:51 (22:55)
- 15km: 1:09:03 (23:12)
- 20km: 1:32:23 (23:20)
Third place to Kaori Kawazoe (JPN) in 1:33:09, fourth in open race
Below his split times
- 5km: 22:49
- 10km: 45:40 (22:52)
- 15km: 1:09:04 (23:24)
- 20km: 1:22:09 (24:05)
(photos by Dukho Cho - KOR e Tomoya Ishii - JPN)
(in cover photo Daisuke Matsunaga)
The start of 20 km uomini
Il podio della 20 km uomini
Wang Na (CHN) Kumiko Okada (JPN)