Sapporo: Singh India Gurpreet failed to complete the Olympic man’s 50km race event, pulled out after a 35km sign because of cramps under hot and humid conditions here on Friday.
The 37-year-old Gurpreet, one of the lowest ranked athletes at the event, was 51 on a 35km mark with 2 hours 55 minutes and 19 seconds but came out after that.
He had slowed and was seen sitting on the sidelines after 35km marks, assisted by the medical team of the race but did not seem much trouble.
Gurpreet has the best of 3:59:42 which he clocked when he won gold during the National Open Race Championship in February.
The temperature in the Sapporo Odori Park is around 25 degrees Celsius when the event starts at 5:30 am local time but up to 30 degrees Celsius when it ends after 9 am.
Moisture is at 80 percent very high.
Fifty-nine athletes began but 12 were not finished or disqualified.
Dawid Tomala from Poland won gold with time 3:50:08, While Jonathan Hilbert (3:50:44) from Germany and Evan Dunfee (3:50:59) from Canada each took silver and bronze.