Japan's Mayumi wins women's 20km walk at Asian championships

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Kawasaki Mayumi won the women's 20km walk at the 18th Asian athletics championships here on Friday.

Kawasaki, who finished tenth in the 2007 Osaka Worlds, achieved the victory in 1:30:12, while Chinese Yang Yawei took the silver, timing 1:34:11.

The bronze went to Svetlana Tolstaya of Kazakhstan in 1:36:42.

Liu Hong from China, bronze medalist at 2009 Berlin Worlds, took an early lead in the race but was disqualified in the middle of the race.

"The Chinese athletes are quite strong," said Kawasaki. "I tried my best to trail Liu in the race. And if I can control my rhythm better, I think I will get better result. I am so happy to win."

"I was surprised when I knew Liu was disqualified," said the winner, who defeated Liu in this year's IAAF walk challenge in June. "She is an excellent athlete and bronze medalist in Berlin. She is always an arch rival."