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Asian Games Champion Wang Yinhang Wins Men's 50km Race
Asian Games champion Wang Yinhang won the men's 50 kilometers event and qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games at the Chinese National Walking Championships on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who jumped to fame by winning his speciality event in three hours 59 minutes 26 seconds in Bangkok's steaming heat in 1998, clocked 3:53:10 to win a precious Olympic berth.
"I should have had a better time, but in this Olympic qualifying tournament, winning the title is the most important thing," said the beaming Wang.
The victory looked much more comfortable than that in Bangkok two years ago, when he collapsed after crossing the finish line. He walked around, kept smiling and talking frequently to the media.
"I'm in a superb form," he said. "My time could have been around 3:50:00 if my coach had not let me slow down in the first five kilometers."
Yang Yongjian finished second in 3:54:13 and Wang's training partner Yu Guohui third in 3:55:20.
But it will be very difficult for the Chinese walkers to finish top eight in the coming Olympics.
"Chinese walkers never had good performance in the 50km event in the Olympic Games and the World Championships," Wang said. "I hope to enter the top eight in Sydney."
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