Asian Games: Japan gets first medals in athletics

DOHA, Dec. 7 Kyodo

Ryoko Sakakura and Koichiro Morioka gave Japan its first medals of the athletics competition with a silver and a bronze in the women's and men's 20-kilometer walk at the Asian Games on Thursday.

Sakakura came second in the women's walk with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, 19 seconds to win Japan's first silver in the discipline since the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok. She finished one minute behind winner Liu Hong of China.

''I thought I only had the ability to finish fourth so I have surprised myself and am absolutely delighted,'' said Sakakura. ''Beating one of the Chinese athletes (third-placed He Dan) has boosted my confidence.''

In the men's event, Morioka clocked 1:23:17 in a race won by China's Han Yucheng. South Korean Kim Hyun Sub was second and Japan's Yuki Yamazaki fourth.

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