It was a fruitful day for Indian cyclists on the track as the host finished with six medals, including three gold, on the opening day of the Track Asia Cup here on Wednesday but same could not be said about the stadium management at the Indira Gandhi Complex Velodrome, that made entry into the venue an ordeal for everyone despite the federation having made entry free for spectators.
As a result, favourite Deborah Herold's two gold medals – in the women's elite 500m time trial and the elite sprint team – came in front of empty stands. In fact, barring the cyclists, coaches and otehr team staffers, there was hardly anyone present.
Deborah clocked 35.964 seconds in the time trial, ahead of Mohd. Adnan Farina Shawati of Malaysia and Yin Yin of Hong Kong. In the Team Sprint event, the Indian team of Deborah and Kezia Vargheese beat Kazakhstan with a timing of 35.962 seconds.
Deborah, who had her back taped, was not at her best but it was good enough to get her gold. “I was suffering from back pain for the past 10 days but this was a good start and I hope to keep doing well and improve my timing,” she said after the event.
Youngster Alena Reji, making her international debut, bagged silver in the junior 500 time trial, beating Jantuganova Olga from Uzbekistan. Anis Amira Rosedi from Malaysia won the gold medal in this event with a timing of 38.443.
Several events saw teams and cyclists being disqualified at the start resulting in just the gold and silver medals being awarded. India's Rajkumari Abe Devi was given the bronze in the elite Individual Pursuit (3km) event after receiving a walkover.
Among the men, Iran took gold in the elite team sprint with a time of 46.330 followed by Malaysia in 47.999. Among the juniors, the Indian men won silver with a time of 49.299 in the team sprint while the women added another gold in 37.452.
While the Cycling Federation of India had announced that entry was free for everyone and had informed the stadium administration about the same, the latter refused to allow either the media or the handful of spectators that did try to enter. It was only after a representative of the CFI arrived at the gate did the guards allow. This is not the first time stadium administration has refused entry at the IG Stadium, one of the largest in India hosting wrestling, gymnastics, cycling and badminton.
India is now tied at the top spot in the event with Malaysia, who has an equal number of gold, silver and bronze medals.
The results:
Women: Elite: 500m Time Trial: Deborah Herold (35.964), Mohd. Adnan Farina Shawati (Mal, 37.461), Yin Yin Li (HK, 38.845); Team sprint: India (35.962), Kazakhstan (40.157); Individual Pursuit (3km): Yao Pang (HK, 3:46:738), Yekaterina Yuraitis (Kaz, 3:51:306), Rajkumari Abe Devi (Ind, w/o)
Junior: Team sprint: India (37.451), Uzbekistan (41.640); 500m time trial: Anis Amira Rosidi (Mal, 38.443), Alena Reji (Ind, 38.501), Olga Jantuganova (Uzb, 41.650); individual pursuit (2km): Anis Amira Rosedi (Mal, 2:37:978), Veronika Myrxina (Kaz, 2:39:994), Hoi Wah Leung (HK, 2:43:851).
Men Elite: Team sprint: Iran (46.330), Malaysia (47.999); individual pursuit (4km): Chun Wing Leung (HK), Andrey Izmaylov (Uzb), Eiman Firdaus Mohd. Zamri (Mal, 4:46:991)
Junior: Team sprint: Hong Kong (48.750), India (49.299); individual pursuit (3km): Mohd Danieal Haikkal Edy Suhaidee (Mal, 3:31:756), Jassim Ali Qambar (UAE, 3:32:014).
Comments
SHARE