Sunday, March 18, 2018 will take place in Nomi (JPN) the 42nd Asian Race Walk Championships of 20km.
The annual competition will see the representatives of eleven Countries (men) and 8 Countries (women) in the classic distance.
On the side of the representatives of the individual Countries (one per Country) other athletes will compete in the Asian Open, but above all the usual mega group of Japanese athletes both men and women.
List of entries
Asian Championships men
Among the entered athletes stand out the name of Fumitaka Oikawa (JPN) that last February 18, 2018 in Kobe (JPN) got the new personal best of 1:19:17 by virtue of his 6th place. He is the main candidate for victory.
The main opponent should be Hyunsub Kim (KOR) who last year here in Nomi got the second place in 1:19:50, but that boasts a personal best on the distance of 1:19:13 (always obtained in Nomi on March 15, 2015).
These two are the athletes who present themselves with a personal best of less than 1:20:00.
Other athletes of interest are:
- Yuan Zisheng (CHN) with a personal best of 1:22:57 obtained in Huangshan (CHN) on March 4, 2017
- Georgy Sheiko (KAZ) with a personal best of 1:20:47 obtained in Nomi (JPN) on March 19, 2017
- Neeraj (IND) with a personal best of 1:21:40 obtained in New Delhi (IND) on Feb. 18, 2017
20km men of Japan
106 athletes are registered.
The most important name are those of Daisuke Matsunaga (JPN) fresh from the recent personal best of 1:17:46 obtained in Kobe on Feb. 18, 2018. Matsunaga could be the absolute winner of the men's trial.
His most important adversary should be Isamu Fujisawa (JPN) who boasts a personal best of 1:18:23 also this obtained in Kobe (JPN) on Feb. 19, 2017.
Under 1:21:00 just one other athlete: Takumi Saito (JPN) with the time of 1:20:56 always obtained in Kobe on Feb. 18, 2018, but which boasts a personal best of 1:19:44 obtained at Nomi ( JPN) on March 20, 2016.
Of course with such a dense presence of athletes there will be a very interesting race also from a promotional point of view.
Asian Women Championships
The favours are to Duan Dandan (CHN) with his personal best of 1:28:37 obtained in Huangshan (CHN) on March 4, 2017.
Opponents for the podium are:
- Kaori Kawazoe (JPN) with her personal best of 1:33:09 obtained in Nomi (JPN) on March 19, 2017
- Yeongeun Jeon (KOR) with her personal best of 1:30:35 obtained in Nomi (JPN) on March 15, 2015 but entered with the most recent performance of 1:33:29 dating back to Aug. 13, 2017 at the World Championships in London.
20km women from Japan
42 athletes are entered.
The most important name are that of Chiaki Asada (JPN) recently disqualified in Kobe but that last year in Nomi got in a good 1:32:12, while her personal best dates back to March 2, 2016 (always obtained in Nomi) with the time of 1:30:44
The two most important adversaries are:
- Sae Matsumoto (JPN) with her personal best of 1:33:16 obtained in Nomi (JPN) on March 19, 2017
- Ai Michiguchi (JPN) recently third at Kobe on Feb. 18, 2017 in 1:33:52, but boasting a personal best of 1:31:51 obtained in Nomi (JPN) on March 20, 2016.