Hangzhou, China, September 29, 2023: China won the first two gold medals as the athletics programme at the Hangzhou Asian Games commenced on Friday, September 29.
The Chinese double came in the men’s and women’s 20km Race Walk with Zhang Jun and Yang Jiayu, respectively, taking the first two of 48 gold medals up for grabs in this blue riband sport.
While Zhang had a comfortable victory over compatriot and silver medallist Wang Zhaozhao, winning in one hour 23 minutes to finish one minute and eight seconds in front, the women’s race was a neck-to-neck contest with Yang finishing only a second in front of another Chinese, Ma Zhenxia.
Ma pushed Yang all the way and even inadvertently stepped on her foot but Yang, despite stumbling, didn’t buckle under the pressure to win the 20km contest in 1:30:03 and complete an Asian Games double, having won the gold five years ago in Jakarta.
“She stepped on my shoes in the last lap. But it wasn’t on purpose. After the race she apologised to me, but it didn’t really affect me, and I was able to get back up and make a comeback,” revealed Yang.
Yang, 27, holder of the world record – 1:23:49 set in 2021 – as well as the Asian Games record – 1:29:15 set in 2018 Jakarta – was clearly the favourite as the eight-strong field began on a hot and humid day at the Qiantang River Green Belt course bordering the main stadium in Hangzhou.
“I was the champion in the last Asian Games but these past two years have not been easy for me as I have experienced a lot of ups and downs. Going into the race today, I told myself, I don’t have any opponents. My biggest opponent is just myself. I surpassed myself and did it,” Yang said.
“I began strongly. In the first half of the race, a Japanese athlete challenged me, so in order to finish one-two, me and my Chinese teammate Ma walked very close to each other. I let her lead and this was my strategy. In the end, the Japanese faded away and I felt more relaxed,” Yang related.
Having defended her gold medal in Hangzhou, Yang’s attention will turn to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“I have not done well at the Olympics. In 2016, I went as a substitute. Then last time in Tokyo, it was a lost cause as I finished 12th. My goal is now Paris,” Yang added.
Japan’s Nanako Fujii won the bronze medal behind the Chinese duo.
The men’s race was a repeat with China winning gold and silver and Japan’s Yutaro Murayama taking the bronze.
“My strategy was to follow the leaders in the first 15 kilometres and then try to accelerate in the last five. It worked very well and I’m pleased as race walking produced China’s first gold in athletics,” gold medallist Zhang said.
