Liu wins women's 20km race walk for China's first gold at Beijing worlds

World record holder Liu Hong from China won the women's 20km race walk title for host China's first gold at the world championships here in Beijing on Friday.

Liu, who claimed the gold with a time of 1 hour 27 minutes 45 seconds, finally had her efforts paid off after winning world championships bronze in 2009, silver in 2011 and then another bronze two years ago in Moscow.

The gold also came as a big relief after the host has just collected three silver and one bronze medals in the first six matchdays at the worlds.

Liu's teammate and major rival Lyu Xiuzhi, who bettered the Asian record in March, won silver at 1:27.45 while Ukraine's Lyudmyla Olyanovska was third at 1:28.13.

With the withdrawal of Russian contingent, the Chinese duo led the race from the very start and left the chasing group far behind after the halfway point. Olyanovska made a late surge, but it never really threatened the Chinese walkers.

"The weather is hot and the competition is tough. But I believe in myself and I think I deserve to win this match after I paid so much," said Liu, who trimmed the world record by 26 seconds to 1:24.38 in the Spanish city of La Coruna this June.

"It's my fifth world championships and I finally realized my dream. With the absence of the Russian rivals, I think all I have to do is perform to my normal level.

"The team work is also important. Me and Lyu cooperated very well to make sure that China can win gold and silver together," the 28-year-old veteran added. Enditem