Kenya Karasawa (26), who is blind and has been appointed as the representative of the Tokyo Paralympics in the 5000-meter track and field men's visually impaired class, won the world record of 15 minutes 9 seconds 94 at the tournament held in Saitama Prefecture. Suddenly, he made a name for himself as a gold medal candidate for the Tokyo Paralympics.
World new for the first time in 17 years
Karasawa, who has won the bronze medal at the adult world championship, participated in the 5000-meter visually impaired class at the East Japan Business Group Athletics Championships held in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture on the 16th.
At the age of 10, he lost his eyesight due to retinal detachment, and while being guided by his companion, Karasawa was behind Shinya Wada, who was also appointed as the representative of the Tokyo Paralympics until the middle of the race, and raced with plenty of time. I proceeded.
Then, after 4000 meters, he took a long spurt to shake off Wada, increased the pace as it was, and finished at 15 minutes 9 seconds 94, which set a world record of 1 second 13.
This is the first time in 17 years since the 2004 Athens Paralympics that the world record for this class was set.
Last time, Karasawa saw the same visually impaired athlete play an active part in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, and although he has only been playing athletics for five years, he suddenly made a name for himself as a gold medal candidate for the Tokyo Paralympics.