Wang Kaihua breaks men's 20km race walk national record in Huangshan on March 20, 2021. (Du Yu)
Asian Games champion Wang Kaihua won the Chinese race walk national championships title of men's 20km with a new national mark and books a spot in China's Olympic squad.
HUANGSHAN, China, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Asian Games champion Wang Kaihua shattered China's men's 20-kilometer race walk record here on Saturday at the 2021 national championships, which also served as a qualification event for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Competing under cool and drizzling weather conditions, the 27-year-old Wang paced the race from the gun to the finish as he wrapped up a convincing victory in one hour, 16 minutes and 54 seconds, chopping 42 seconds off the previous record registered by 2016 Olympic champion Wang Zhen nine years ago.
Wang Kaihua (R4) competes in the men's 20km event of the Chinese race walk national championships in Huangshan on March 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
"My expectation for the race was to break the national record. I feel very good today and the weather is good too. There's still room for me to improve. I am confident that I can break the world record one day," Wang said, referring to the 1:16:36 set by Japan's Yusuke Suzuki in 2015.
More than 20 Chinese athletes met the entry standard for the Tokyo Olympics in the men's 20km event, and the top three finishers on Saturday booked a berth for the Games this summer.
"It will be my first time competing in the Olympics. Everything can happen in such a high-level competition. I will go all out to fight for the best result," said Wang, whose previous career best of 1:17:54 was also achieved in Huangshan in China's eastern province Anhui four years ago.
Wang Kaihua (C), Cai Zelin (L) and Zhang Jun (R) attend the medal ceremony of the men's 20km race walk at the Chinese national championships in Huangshan on March 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan)
2016 Olympic Games runner-up Cai Zelin and Zhang Jun, a former U20 world 10km champion, both clocked a personal best time of 1:17:39. A photo finish declared that 29-year-old Cai took second place and Zhang finished third.
"In the last edition of Olympic Games, I was the second. This time I hope I can fulfill my dream to reach the top step of the podium," said Cai. "I know it would be a tough mission. But you will never know until you try. Experience is my best edge. I need to beat myself in Tokyo."
London Olympic gold medalist Chen Ding, who came back from retirement in 2018, also competed in Huangshan, but only finished 25th in 1:22:55. (by Wu Junkuan, Zhou Chang) ■
