Now for the Asian Games, Hong Kong race walker Jessica Ching eyes medal

Twenty-four hours after doing Hong Kong proud at the IAAF world championships, race walker Jessica Ching Siu-nga has set a new target of reaching the podium at next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta – and knocking another minute off her best time.

Ching was Hong Kong’s sole representative in London, where she turned in an astonishing performance, making good on her promise that she would improve her national record in the 20km walk. Racing in sunny conditions, the 30-year-old full-time athlete held her own against the world’s best walkers to finish in a creditable 35th place in a new national time of 1:35.04. That time was also a personal best for the Lindenwood University (Missouri) graduate.

“The race was amazing. My goal was [to clock] 1:34.30. However, I didn’t expect it to be that warm on race day. A personal best was great and that proved my training was good and I was in good shape. It was an exciting competition,” Ching told the Post on Monday.

“There were a lot of supporters along the course to cheer us. I was really enjoying the race even though I was pretty tired in the end. I have already achieved my goal this year at the world championships. It’s hard to compete in two races within three weeks [with the National Games in Tianjin coming up]. I will see how my body recovers from this race,” she said.

Ching not only broke the national record by nine seconds, she also put the disappointment of missing out on qualifying for last year’s Rio Olympics firmly behind her. This time, she performed the race of her life, which will definitely put her in good stead for Jakarta, where she’s seen as a genuine medal hope.

“I will target to improve my personal best by another one minute next year,” she said, although admitting it’s unlikely to be in Jakarta. “The Asian Games will be held in Indonesia [Jakarta], so it’s going to be very hot. My target for that race is position, not time,” she said. “I want to finish on the podium.”