Olympic champion and world record-holder Liu Hong leads team-mates to podium domination at IAAF World Championships

Down on the city’s Corniche promenade, China swept the medals in the women’s 20km race walk with Lui Hong taking her third world title.

Liu took gold in 2011 and 2015 – and had a baby break in 2017-18 – and her victory on Sunday in Doha came in 1:32:53 ahead of team-mates Qieyang Shenjie (1:33:10) and Yang Liujing (1:33:17) after a half way split of 47:51.

Liu, who is also the Olympic champion and world record-holder, handled the warm conditions (32C and 75% humidity at the start just before midnight) better than everyone else, including defending champion Yang Jiayu, who was disqualified during the event.