Han Yucheng of China won the first athletics gold medal of the Doha Asian Games on Thursday, shrugging off the rainy conditions in this desert city to win the 20-kilometer walk.

China's Liu Hong celebrates after winning the women's 20km walk event at the Asian Games in Doha December 7, 2006.[Reuters]

World junior champion Liu Hong of China won the women's walk in an Asian Games best time of 1 hour, 32 minutes and 19 seconds.

Han did not collect a single warning on the way to his time of 1:21.41, ahead of silver medalist Kim Hyun-sub in 1:23.12, who earned South Korea's first ever medal in the event. Japan's Koichiro Morioka took the bronze with a time of 1:23.17.

"I'm not satisfied with the result," said Han. "I wanted to set a new Asian Games record, but I didn't."

Han said the steady rain on the seaside Corniche circuit made competing extremely difficult.

"The rain was so heavy I couldn't open my eyes," he said. "It also affected my rhythm."

Japan's Ryoko Sakakura claimed the women's silver medal in 1:33.19 for Japan, while He Dan of China took bronze with 1:34.24.

Liu, 19, hoped the Asian Games win would boost her chances of competing in the event on home turf next year at the Beijing Olympics.

"The Olympic Games is my final goal," she said. "There is a possibility for me to achieve that goal (of competing). I will try my best."

The main track and field program begins Friday at Khalifa Stadium with the men's and women's hammer throw, men's steeplechase and women's 10,000 meters.

China's Olympic women's 10,000-meter champion Xing Huina and Qatar's 3,000-meter steeplechase world record holder Saif Saaeed Shaheen will not compete after earlier withdrawing from the games.

Olympic hammer throw champion Koji Murofushi of Japan was ruled out last week due to injury.

China's 110-meter hurdles world-record holder Liu Xiang, the biggest name at the games, will compete Monday