Jiang Qiuyan from China clinched the first gold medal of the 24th Universiade on Thursday in women's 20km walk. Jiang defended her title with a time of 1:35:22 in Ayutthaya Province, Bangkok. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BANGKOK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Jiang Qiuyan from China clinched the first gold medal of the 24th Universiade here on Thursday in women's 20km walk.

    Jiang, who had been crowned at the last Universiade in Izmir, Turkey, in one hour 33 minutes and 13 seconds, defended her title with a time of 1:35:22 in Ayutthaya Province, 60 km north to Bangkok.

    Jiang's time of 1:33:13 in Izmir is still the Universiade best and her personal best is 1:27:00.

    "I am very excited now," said the Universiade best holder. "I am satisfied with the result, though it is not as good as the record I set two years ago."

    "Now I will focus on training again, and do my best to attend the Beijing Olympics," said Jiang, who is currently a member of the national team.

    Shen Chunde, the Chinese member of the Technical Committee of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), told Xinhua that Jiang is in top five female walkers in China and has a great chance to participate in the Beijing Olympics.

    Shen, also the Universiade athletics competition technical supervisor, said, "The Chinese walkers are quite competitive in world arena. They have made great progress in both techniques and tactics, and I believe they will show their best on home soil at the Beijing Olympics."

    In today's final, Jiang unsurprisingly started with a strategy of following the leading athlete, and sped up in the third lap, leaving others far behind.

    "The leading girl walked too slowly, and I had to outrace her for a better result," Jiang said.

    The 24-year-old walker came to Bangkok with the Asian Athletics Championship title claimed last month in Jordan.

    To her surprise, a group of Chinese students appeared along the track, cheering for her excellent performance during the long walk.

    "We are studying Thai language here in Royal Ayutthaya University," said Fan Yanying, a student from Guangxi Province of China. "We are delighted and proud to see Chinese winning gold medal here."

    Jiang's gold medal earned early this morning was the first trophy for the Chinese Universiade delegation.

    Mongelli Lidia of Italy became the silver medallist, clocking 1:37:23, and Yurchanka Sniazhana of Bulgaria finished third in 1:37:26.

    Sixteen athletes from 12 countries competed in the first final of the Universiade, which was officially opened in Bangkok on Wednesday night.

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