Former World U20 medallist Ayane Yanai took Asian gold ahead of two Chinese rivals and crowned her first national title. She led the Asian field with eight contestants, including two out-of-competition athletes, and clocked her second best in the career. Yanai entered last five kilometres alongside two Chinese Yanhong Li and Jinlin Ning, who competed out of the contest. Ning finished first at 1:30:05, but Yanai upgraded her 2023 silver to the gold in 1:30:25, half a minute slower than her lifetime best.
Chinese birthday girl Yanhong Li concluded the course in 1:30:30 and became closest second placer in the Asian Race walking history. Li, who turned 23 on the day, trailed just five seconds from the winner. The Kazakh national champion Yasmina Toxanbayeva grabbed a medal for her country after 19 years.
In the very deeply contested All-Japanese Race Walking Champs, the Asian event contained 14 men in the startlist. Chinese Hu Xuanfei struggled in the final few kilometres which he covered more than 22 minutes, but still managed to win the Asian title with nearly two minutes gap. The silver goes to veteran Kazakh Georgiy Sheiko, and the bronze was won by Rasulbek Dilmorudov, who secured his first-ever Uzbek podium at the Asian Race Walking.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Race Walking Championships went ahead. Yuta Koga walked 1:18:48 as he recorded the fastest quarter in the final part. He grabbed a spot for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
