Date:08/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120807442100.htm

Sport - Athletics

Yucheng, Hong shine in Doha rain

DOHA: Chinese Han Yucheng and Liu Hong had to battle hard spells of rain rather than a tough field to walk away with gold medals in the 15th Asian Games here on Thursday.

Twenty-seven-year-old Han, the lone Chinese entry in the men's 20 kilometre walk, emerged champion in one hour 21 minutes and 41 seconds.

Sakakura takes silver

In the women's event, China not only took the gold but the bronze as well, while Japanese Ryoko Sakakura managed to pull through for the silver.

The results: Men: 20 km walk: 1. Han Yucheng (Chn) 1:21:41; 2. Hyun-Sub Kim (Kor) 1:23:12; 3. Koichiro Morioka (Jpn) 1:23:17.

Women: 20 km walk: 1. Liu Hong (Chn) 1:32:19; 2. Ryoko Sakakura (Jpn) 1:33:19; 3. He Dan (Chn) 1:34:24.