March 18, 2018
Nomi (Japan). Ravina of Haryana won the open category gold at 20km Asian Race Walking Championships held at Nomi, Japan on Sunday with an impressive timing of 1:35:35. The Haryana girl finished overall second behind Duan Dandan (1:35:12) of China who won the gold in the official entry category of the championships.
India’s official entry for the championships was Neeraj Rathi (men’s 20km) and Karamjit Kaur (women’s 20km). Neeraj finished fourth while Karamjit finished eighth in with the timing of 1:25:33 and 1:58:22, respectively.
As per competition rules, a country can send entries in the open categories for the purpose of giving exposure to the athletes but their performance will not be counted as official. India had sent four men and two women race walkers in the open category, besides the two official entries — one man and one woman — in the continental event.
Rathi had finished third in the men’s 20km event in the National Championships last month with a timing of 1:21.39 while Kaur had won the bronze in the women’s 20km competition with timing of 1:34.08.
Meanwhile in the men’s open category, Jharkhand’s Vikash Singh — who had finished seventh in the Nationals in 1:22.38s — won the bronze in 1:25.23, a shade faster than Rathi’s time.
In other men’s open category results, Kulwant Singh was fifth in 1:25.59s and Eknath Sambhaji seventh, while Sunil could not finish the event.
Results:
Men’s 20km RW: Vikash Singh (overall 14th, 1:25:23, open), Neeraj Rathi (overall 15th, 1:25:33, 4th in official ranking), Kulwant Singh (overall 19th, 1:25:59), Eknath Sambhaji (overall 22, 1:26:50). Women’s 20km RW: Ravina (overall 2nd, 1:35:35), Shanti Kumari (overall 7th, 1:36:52), Karamjit Kaur (overall 38th, 1:58:22, 8th in official ranking).
(With inputs from PTI & www.sportsalive.com)
