Bengaluru, August 6: Gurpreet Singh, India's sole contestant in the 50KM Race Walk at Tokyo 2020 Olympics, dropped out midway through the event due to severe cramps.

At halfway point of 25km, Gurpreet was in the 49th position with the time of 2:01:54 when the gruelling heat and humidity took a heavy toll on his body.

As per ANI news agency report, Gurpreet went on to race completed almost 35kms before deciding to pull out of the event.

Gurpreet had slowed down considerably and was seen sitting on the sidelines after the 35km mark, being helped by the medical team of the race but did not seem in much trouble, adds PTI news agency.

Gurpreet has a personal best of 3:59:42 which he had clocked while winning gold during the National Open Race Walk Championships in February.

The temperature at the Sapporo Odori Park was around 25 degree celsius when the event started at 5:30am local time but rose to above 30 degree celsius when it ended after 9am local time.

The humidity was at a very high 80 per cent.

Fifty nine athletes started but 12 either did not finish or were disqualified.

Earlier on Thursday (August 5), India's KT Irfan, Sandeep Kumar, and Rahul Rohilla had a disappointing show in the men's 20KM Race Walk as they were not able to finish even in the top ten.

At the Sapporo Odori Park, with a time of 1:25:07) Sandeep finished 23rd while Rahul (1:32:06) and Irfan (1:34:41) finished at the 47th and 52nd respectively.

Italy's Massimo Stano won the gold medal while Japan's Koki Ikeda clinched the silver and his compatriot Toshikazu Yamanishi settled for bronze.

Learning curve

Meanwhile in the women's 20KM walk race held later in the day, India's Priyanka Goswami finished 17th while her compatriot Bhawna Jat, ended up 32nd.

The 25-year-old Priyanka clocked 1 hr 32 minute 36 seconds, well outside her personal best of 1:28:45 which she had come up with during the National Open Race Walk Championships in February.

The event was held under hot and humid conditions.

Priyanka was in the leading pack from the beginning and was the front runner when she crossed the 8km mark, but slowly she dropped down later on.

Bhawna, on the other hand, failed to keep pace with the leading pack and was behind from the beginning to end with a time of 1:37:38.

The 25-year-old Indian has a personal best of 1:29:54.

Antonella Palmisano of Italy won the gold, clocking 1:29:12 while Colombian Sandra Lorena Arenas (1:29:37) and Hong Liu (1:29:57) of China took the silver and bronze respectively.