How did Choe Byeong-kwang win bronze in the men’s half marathon race walk at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

Choe finished third in 1:28:35 at the Aichi-Nagoya Race Walking Course in Nagoya. He moved into third with about 9 kilometers left after spending the early part of the 21.0975 km race in fourth place.

Why was Choe Byeong-kwang emotional after his Asian Games bronze medal?

Choe said the medal made him happy and emotional because this could be his last Asian Games. The bronze was also his first medal in four Asian Games appearances, coming at age 35.

Who won the gold and silver medals ahead of Choe Byeong-kwang in the race walk event?

Shi Shengji of China won gold in 1:23:32, and Toshikazu Yamanishi of Japan took silver in 1:28:01. Choe’s bronze gave South Korea its first athletics medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Choe Byeong-kwang wins race walk bronze for S. Korea's 1st athletics medal in Nagoya

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Summary

Choe Byeong-kwang won bronze in the men’s half marathon race walk at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Nagoya, giving South Korea its first athletics medal of the event on Wednesday. He finished third in 1:28:35 at the Aichi-Nagoya Race Walking Course. China’s Shi Shengji took gold in 1:23:32, and Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi won silver in 1:28:01.

Key Facts

This was Choe Byeong-kwang’s fourth Asian Games appearance and his first medal at age 35.
He said he felt happy and emotional because this could be his last Asian Games.
Choe moved into third place with about 9 kilometers left in the 21.0975 km race after being fourth through the first 6 kilometers.
The athletics competition at the Asian Games had just begun on its first day when Choe won the bronze medal.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 11:07 am KST

South Korea's Choe Byeong-kwang celebrates after his third place finish in the men's half marathon race walk at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Wednesday. AP-Yonhap

NAGOYA, Japan — South Korea picked up its first athletics medal of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Wednesday, as Choe Byeong-kwang took bronze in the men's half marathon race walk.

Choe finished third with a time of 1:28:35 at Aichi-Nagoya Race Walking Course in Nagoya, central Japan. Shi Shengji of China won the gold medal in 1:23:32, and Toshikazu Yamanishi of Japan claimed silver in 1:28:01.

This was Choe's fourth Asian Games appearance but his first medal at age 35.

"I felt so happy to win this medal and also became emotional, because this could be my last Asian Games," Choe said in a statement released by the Korea Association of Athletics Federations. "I believe younger athletes will post even better results in the future."

Choe was in fourth place through the first 6 kilometers of this 21.0975 km race. He climbed to fourth at the 7 km mark and moved into third with about 9 km left, eventually hanging on to take the bronze medal.

This was the first day of athletics at the ongoing Asian Games.

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