Asian sprinters on track to make some big strides

Liu Hong

WOMEN'S RACE WALK (FINAL BEGINS AT 8:30 ON AUG 28)

Born: May 12, 1987

Height: 1.60m

Weight: 50kg

The current world record holder of the Olympic 20km race (1:24:38) set the pace in the Spanish leg of the 2015 IAAF race walking challenge in June. Liu is the odds-on favorite to win at the worlds, boasting solid form in every event she has entered this season. After winning a silver and two bronze medals at the past three worlds, she is eager to win gold on home soil while cementing her status as the female equivalent of men's Olympic champion walker Chen Ding.