Tokyo Olympics women’s 20km race walk: Priyanka Goswami comes home in 17th
Priyanka Goswami was leading at the halfway mark but fell behind later. Bhawna Jat finished 32nd.
India’s Priyanka Goswami finished 17th and Bhawna Jat 32nd in the women’s 20km race walk at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.
Priyanka Goswami finished with a timing of 1:32.36 and Bhawna Jat clocked 1:37.38.
Priyanka Goswami holds the national record with 1:28:45, set at the national race walking championships in February, that earned her a spot at Tokyo 2020.
Italy’s Antonella Palmisano won the Olympic gold with a time of 1:29.12, with Sandra Arenas of Colombia taking silver. Only 53 of 58 walkers finished the race.
Brazil’s Erica Sena was third in the closing stages but was given a two-minute penalty, which allowed China’s Hong Liu to win the bronze medal.
World record holder Jiayu Yang of China was also looking set for the podium but received a two-minute penalty at the 18km mark.
As per race walking rules, athletes are to have one foot on the ground at all times in a manner visible to the naked eye.
Moreover, race walkers shouldn’t bend their advancing knee and the leg should straighten as the body passes over it.
Judges present throughout the course enforce these laws. If an athlete is seen violating the rules, they are penalised for ‘loss of contact’ and ‘bent knee’, respectively.
Three violations result in a two-minute penalty while an additional violation will result in the participant’s disqualification from the race.
Walking in the sweltering heat at the Sapporo Odori Park, Priyanka Goswami set the pace in the early stages. She came in fourth at the 4km mark, rose to third by 6km and was narrowly leading by 8km.
The 25-year-old Bhawna Jat by contrast was chasing the leaders and sat 33rd at the 6km and 8km mark.
World No. 55 Priyanka Goswami was then given a warning for breaking stride but still maintained her place along with the leaders at the halfway point. Bhawna Jat was still part of the chasing group.
Priyanka Goswami, 25, fell off the pace at the 14km mark, coming in only 15th - 37 seconds behind the leaders. Bhawna Jat was lapped by the 16km mark.
In the end, Priyanka Goswami came home more than three minutes behind the race winner and Bhawna Jat - ranked world No. 139 - was eight minutes back.