DOHA - China's Han Yucheng won the first athletics gold medal of the 15th Asian Games here today after returning home first with a time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 41 seconds in the men's 20-kilometer walking race.

China's Han Yuchen competes in men's 20-kilometer walking in Doha Asian Games December 7, 2006. Han won the gold 1 hour, 21 minutes and 41 seconds. [Xinhua]

Battling in a pouring rain and strong wind, the 28-year-old Chinese, bronze medalist at the World Cup this year, broke away from the leading pact at the 10km mark, and led the way all home for a big way.

The silver medal was won by South Korea's Kim Hyun-Sub in 1:23: 12, and the bronze went to Japan's Koichiro Morioka, 1:23:17.

After the gun, Han, gold medalist of the Asian Championships in 2003, jumped to the leading position immediately, followed closely by the South Korean and Japanese walkers.

The first 8 kilometers saw the three walkers stay together and rolling ahead in a leading group.

But Han quickened his pace in the next lap and built up his big lead in the later stage.

Kim and Morioka fought for the silver hard in the rain, walking shoulder by shoulder to the finish.