Indian walkers set two national records in China

Indian walkers notched up two national records at the IAAF World Race Walking Cup while two other men walkers managed to produce their personal bests in the prestigious championship here Saturday.

Armyman Sandeep Kumar, 27, created the national record in the men's 50km walk with a timing of 3:56:22 to finish 23rd in the race. Sandeep, who hails from Mahendergarh, Haryana, is employed with the Jat Regiment Centre. Sandeep bettered the national record of Basant Bahadur Rana, who clocked 3:56:48 in the 2012 Olympics.

In the women's event, Khushbir Kaur erased her own national record in the 20km event, clocking 1:31:40, to finish 35th. She had set the previous national record of 1:33:37, at the Asian Race Walking Championship in Nomi (Japan) in March.

Russia's Anisya Kirdyapkina clocked 1:26:31 to take the gold while local girl Hong Liu took the silver with a timing of 1:26:58.

Two other Indian men in the fray in 50km event, Manish Singh Rawat and Surinder Singh notched up their personal bests in the race.

Overall, the Indian walkers team finished in seventh place in the World Cup which witnessed as many as 30 countries participating in the 50km event.