Tomorrow morning, at an almost impossible time for the European mentality (6:00), the two races of the 20km of the Asian Games will start in Jakarta, Palembang.
Below is the starting list
20km uomini
It is certainly not very difficult to predict for medals a fight between the two current world leading Countries, China and Japan.
China will be represented by Wang Kaihua able this year of 1:19:45 at the start of the season at Huangshan (CHN) on March 3, 2018 and Jin Xiangqian who always at Huangshan got the time of 1:20:56. However, both athletes have lower personal bests.
Japan will be represented by Eiki Takahashi, capable this year at Kobe of 1:17:26 (which is currently the second world performance of the year) and Toshikazhu Yamanishi who always at Kobe got the time of 1:17:41.
In Taicang, in the previous meeting with Japan for the IAAF World Race Walk Team Championships, the direct comparison between the four gave the following result:
| Athlete | Place | Mark |
| | | |
| Wang Kaihua (CHN) | 2° | 1:21:22 |
| Toshikazu Yamanishi (JPN) | 4° | 1:21:53 |
| Jin Xiangqian (CHN) | 6° | 1:22:35 |
| Eiki Takahashi (JPN) | 18° | 1:24:07 |
As outsiders we see in particular Kim Kyunsub (KOR).
Below is the updated 2018 list of Asia on 20km women (first 11 positions):
20km women
The women's competition is much easier to read, as it will probably live on the fight between the two Chinese athletes: the 2017 London World Champion, Yang Jiayu, and the 2012 London Olympic silver medalist, Qieyang Shenjie.
The world ranking list should give priority to the Tibetan athlete who this year leads the seasonal world list (not considering the time obtained in Cheboksary by Yelena Lashmanova) in 1:26:28 obtained in La Coruna last June 2nd.
Yang Jiayu has instead the time of 1:27:22 with which in Taicang was classified third just behind the teammate (1:27:06).
The bronze should be awarded to Kumiko Okada (JPN) that this year has been able, always in Taicang of a mark of 1:31:29.
Below is the updated 2018 list of Asia on 20km women (first 11 positions):