Taicang, China: Inspired by the enthusiastic performances by her teammates in the morning session, Asian bronze medalist Khushbir Kaur joined the celebrations with yet another national record in the women’s 20 km race walk in the 26th edition of the IAAF World Race Walking Cup at this Chinese city on Saturday evening.

The 20-year-old Khushbir, who hails from Punjab, was unbeaten on the national scene ever since she set her foot in race walking. Having finished fifth at her maiden international appearance at Nomi City, Japan, in the Asian race walking championships two years ago, Khushbir progressed step-by-step with a fourth place in 2013 to a podium finish earlier this March.

Khushbir cracked 16 secs off Deepmala Devi’s national mark for her candid win within the campus roads of the National Institute of Sports (Patiala) in 2012 with a time of 1:37:28. The same year she went to Saransk (Russia) to compete in the Race Walking World Cup but finished only 69th in a slow 1:44:07. However, she improved on her pace to complete the World championships in Moscow with a noteworthy 38th place finish and shave off 3 minutes to her previous timing. A confident Khushbir then returned to Asian championships on a familiar terrain in earlier 2014 and was third-time lucky on her third appearance to post her third national mark in 1:33:27.

The Indian drew some sensation and surprised the fans as she was among the top-six race walkers during the first quarter of the race in Taicang this evening. However, unable to bear the intensity of competition Khushbir started trailing afterwards but put on a better display than her earlier outings. At the end Khushbir finished 35th and returned 1:31:40 – her best ever time and another national record to date.

Meanwhile, with a world leading 1:26:31 Anisya Kirdyapkina climbed on the top spot and brought Russia a second gold of the day. Local girl Hong Liu who challenged the leader most of the race finished 27 secs behind for the silver while Elmira Alembekova brought the other medal for Russia in 1:27:02.

Five Indians are on the fray in men’s 20 km race walk tomorrow.