<p class="title">Indonesia's Hendro said it was a "miracle" to even finish the 50km race walk in Jakarta's brutal pollution, heat and humidity Thursday after he was carried from the finish line on a stretcher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hendro collapsed after pounding the Indonesian capital's smoggy streets for more than four-and-a-half hours in 31 Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) heat to finish last, in the Asian Games' slowest 50km (31 miles) walk for nearly three decades.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The air quality index in central Jakarta hit 163 on Thursday morning. A reading of more than 150 is considered a health threat to the general population.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After being doused in ice water by medics Hendro, 28, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, was carried to the medical centre shouting incoherently with pain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The race was so difficult -- the hot weather, humidity, and not just the humidity but the pollution," he said after recovering. "Racing here is not easy. This is Indonesia."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a miracle for me I can finish. This is a miracle," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hayato Katsuki of Japan took gold with 4:03:30 -- 23 minutes slower than the last Asian Games -- with a well-judged race, after making holes in his vest to improve ventilation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fellow Japanese Satoshi Maruo set the pace for much of the way but fell back in the final 10km, ending 10 minutes behind the winner and out of the medals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China's Wang Qin took silver, and Joo Hyun-myeong of South Korea bronze.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was just so hot. The walkers in front went fast at the beginning but I paced myself as I knew they would slow," said Katsuki. "I was prepared. I made cuts in my vest to help the air flow."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The winning time was the slowest since the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. Three racers did not finish.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hendro's efforts drew the biggest cheers from the home crowd, applauding his brave effort as he persevered long after any medal chance had vanished, to finish in 4:32:20.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As well as finding it hard to breathe, he was battling an old ligament injury in his right knee.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was so painful," he said. "I was thinking -- I must finish. This is my first time in the 50km. I didn't want to disappoint my coach.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm so proud of the fans... they came here to support me."</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Hendro also called for future races to be shifted away from hazy Jakarta to elsewhere in Indonesia's Java island.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There are no trees here, all buildings," he said. "In the low altitude, pollution and humidity, it is difficult for all Asians," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two athletes were disqualified for illegal steps, while China's Wang Riu retired.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jakarta's air pollution came under fire earlier in the Games when activists unfurled a giant banner showing a person wearing a gas mask and the message "#WeBreatheTheSameAir".</p>
<p class="title">Indonesia's Hendro said it was a "miracle" to even finish the 50km race walk in Jakarta's brutal pollution, heat and humidity Thursday after he was carried from the finish line on a stretcher.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hendro collapsed after pounding the Indonesian capital's smoggy streets for more than four-and-a-half hours in 31 Celsius (88 Fahrenheit) heat to finish last, in the Asian Games' slowest 50km (31 miles) walk for nearly three decades.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The air quality index in central Jakarta hit 163 on Thursday morning. A reading of more than 150 is considered a health threat to the general population.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After being doused in ice water by medics Hendro, 28, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, was carried to the medical centre shouting incoherently with pain.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"The race was so difficult -- the hot weather, humidity, and not just the humidity but the pollution," he said after recovering. "Racing here is not easy. This is Indonesia."</p>.<p class="bodytext">"This is a miracle for me I can finish. This is a miracle," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hayato Katsuki of Japan took gold with 4:03:30 -- 23 minutes slower than the last Asian Games -- with a well-judged race, after making holes in his vest to improve ventilation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fellow Japanese Satoshi Maruo set the pace for much of the way but fell back in the final 10km, ending 10 minutes behind the winner and out of the medals.</p>.<p class="bodytext">China's Wang Qin took silver, and Joo Hyun-myeong of South Korea bronze.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was just so hot. The walkers in front went fast at the beginning but I paced myself as I knew they would slow," said Katsuki. "I was prepared. I made cuts in my vest to help the air flow."</p>.<p class="bodytext">The winning time was the slowest since the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing. Three racers did not finish.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hendro's efforts drew the biggest cheers from the home crowd, applauding his brave effort as he persevered long after any medal chance had vanished, to finish in 4:32:20.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As well as finding it hard to breathe, he was battling an old ligament injury in his right knee.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It was so painful," he said. "I was thinking -- I must finish. This is my first time in the 50km. I didn't want to disappoint my coach.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'm so proud of the fans... they came here to support me."</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Hendro also called for future races to be shifted away from hazy Jakarta to elsewhere in Indonesia's Java island.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"There are no trees here, all buildings," he said. "In the low altitude, pollution and humidity, it is difficult for all Asians," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Two athletes were disqualified for illegal steps, while China's Wang Riu retired.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Jakarta's air pollution came under fire earlier in the Games when activists unfurled a giant banner showing a person wearing a gas mask and the message "#WeBreatheTheSameAir".</p>