On Saturday and Sunday, the city of Tai'an will host the Chinese autumn national walking championship. In this pandemic year it is the most important event for the march of the Asian nation.
The city of Tai'an is located in the Shandong province in central-eastern China. It is a coastal province located along the central eastern region of the Republic of China. The entire population of the province is 100 million inhabitants. The capital is Jinan. Shandong is the province where Confucius was born.
Tai'an has a population of 5 million and is located at the foot of Mount Tai which is the most important of China's five sacred Taoist mountains.
Scheduled events:
Saturday 19th:
8:00 (Chinese - 2:00 in CET): 10km U20 Men (68 entries)
9:00 (3.00 in CET): 10km U20 Women (46 entries)
15:30 (9.30 in CET: 20km. Men (102 entries)
Sunday 20th:
6:30 (0:30 in CET): 30 km. U20 (16 members) and 50km Men (41 entries)
15:30 (9.30 in the morning CET): 20km. women (81 entries)
All the best Chinese athletes participate in the competitions.
20 km. Men: Great favorite Wang Kaihua who boasts a P.B. of 1:17:54 and a S.B. of 1:19:46. The young Zhang Jun should be followed closely. (P.B. 1:20:17). Other athletes with registration times around 1:20:00 are: Cai Zelin (Olympic vice-champion in Rio); Xu Hao (military world champion); Yin Jaxing (9th in Doha); 2012 Olympic champion, Chen Ding: Gao Wenkui boasting a personal of 1:20:07 and Niu Wenchao (P.B. 1:20:30).
50 km. Men: The participation of the favorite Wang Qin (P.B. 3:38:07) is still uncertain, eyes on Niu Wenbin (4th in Doha); Luo Yadong (5th in the last World championships); Wang Rui (P.B. 3:42:08); Sun Son (winner of the 35km. in July in the Chinese Cup).
20 km. Women: Race of very high technical rate. Suffice it to say that 10 athletes who are in the top 30 of the World Ranking will line up at the start. 5 athletes are in the top 7 of this ranking, demonstrating the strength of the Chinese women's race walk, triumphant in all competitions from 2015 to the last world championships with a sensational hat-trick.
It will be the first competition of the season for the Olympic and 3-time world champion: Liu Hong.
Her main opponents will be: Qieyang Shenjie (2nd in Doha); Yang Jiayu (world champion in London 2017); Yang Liujing (3rd in the last world championships); Ma Zhenxia (reigning Asian champion); Duan Dandan (P.B. 1:28:28); Wang Yingliu (P.B. 1:28:15); the world champion of the 50 km. of Doha, Liang Rui with a staff of about 20 km. of 1:28:43 and the bronze of the 50 km. of Doha, Li Maocuo (P.B. 1:30:15)
The expected weather conditions will not perfect for a walking race. The temperature will be around 26 ° degrees with 55% humidity.