By Sundeep Misra, OCA Media
Nagoya, Japan, September 27, 2026: The 2026 Asian Games witnessed a historic milestone on the athletics course as marathon race walking made its official debut.
Capitalizing on his recent momentum from the World Team Championship marathon walk win, Japan’s Hayato Katsuki delivered a superlative performance to secure the gold medal in style, clocking an impressive 3:03:36 under favourable weather conditions featuring overcast skies, low humidity and a refreshing breeze.
China’s Zhou Yingcheng claimed the silver medal with a time of 3:06:40, finishing three minutes and four seconds behind the leader. Meanwhile, fellow Japanese athlete Motofumi Suwa rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a time of 3:08:57.
Speaking to the media after his triumph, the 35-year-old champion gracefully brushed off questions regarding his longevity in the sport.
“I am not overly concerned with my age. It’s not always about being in the best shape physically, but also what your nutrition and rest periods are which determine where you finish in the race.”
Looking ahead, Katsuki confirmed that his sights were already set on next year’s World Championships in Beijing, where he aims to capture the gold.
Silver medallist Zhou was equally optimistic, expressing satisfaction with his podium finish and setting his sights on qualifying for the upcoming World Championships with hopes of another strong international showing.
For bronze medallist Suwa, the race presented tactical challenges that required careful execution on the course, particularly after accumulating penalty cards.
“I didn’t want to risk it, and I also know I need to improve technically and ensure that I don’t get carded too much.”
Suwa explained that, while he maintained a strong pace early on, caution ultimately dictated his strategy to safely secure a medal for Japan.
With marathon race walking now successfully integrated into the Asian Games program, the discipline promises an exciting future.