Race Walker Irfan aims medal at Asian Games

India's K T Irfan has rued the lack of international competitions for race walkers but still feels he can have a shot at a medal in the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Irfan, who comfortably won the men's 20km race walk competition in the Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships at the NIS here, said he is geared up to take on the Chinese and Japanese competitors in the September 19 to October 4 Games.
"It is going to be a tough field with the Chinese and the Japanese among the best in the world. It is going to be a world class field and I have to give my best," Irfan, who won the event here in 1:24:27s, told PTI in an interview.

Seven Japanese, six Chinese and one South Korean have clocked better timings than Irfan in the season so far but a country can send only two athletes (three for home country) in a track and field event in the Asian Games and that should put Irfan in the reckoning for a medal.
Yusuke Suzuki of Japan is the world leader of the season with a timing of 1:18:17s while another Japanese Eiki Takahashi and Chinese Zelin Cai are among the top five season leaders in the IAAF list. Irfan has a personal best and national record of 1:20:21s (clocked in 2012 London Olympics) and season's best of 1:21:09 which he did in the IAAF Race Walking World Cup in China in May.

"I have to take down my time below 1:20.00s to get a medal in Incheon and I think I can do it. The good thing is that all the season leaders from Asia except one are Chinese and Japanese and each country can send only two competitors. So, I am in for a chance," the ace Indian race walker said.