Indian cyclists improved on their performances from the previous edition of the Track Asia Cup, finishing second on the leaderboard with a rich haul of eight medals on the final day of the competition at the Indira Gandhi Complex velodrome on Friday.
Favourite Deborah Herold added another gold medal to her kitty, this time in the Elite Sprint with a timing of 12.493 against Hong Kong’s Zhoujuan Meng (12.734). India’s Kezia Varghese finished fourth. India finished with a total of 16 medals in the competition including five gold, four silver and seven bronze. Hong Kong finished on top with 18 medals including 11 gold. Malaysia was third with nine medals.
Deborah, however, was disappointed to win only silver in her favourite event, losing to Keirin by a whisker while compatriot Varghese finished third.
“I was unlucky to lose an easy gold (in Keirin). I lost my focus due to the collision of other riders, something that happened last year as well. However, I am glad I managed to get a medal this time unlike in 2015. I am determined to do better in the Asian Track Cycling Championship now, which will also be held in India in February next year,” she said.
The junior cyclists too continued to impress with Nayana Rajesh taking gold in the junior women’s sprint, ahead of compatriot Anu Chutia. Hoi Wah of Hong Kong was placed third.
Coach RK Sharma was satisfied with the overall Indian performance. “I am satisfied especially with the junior cyclists who have shown good performance and lived up to expectations. We now have ample time before our next event and our cyclists will surely improve their performance by then,” he said.
The results:
Women
Elite: Sprint: Deborah Herold (IND, 12.493), Zhoujuan Meng (HK, 12.734), Farina Shawati (MAL, 12.342); Keirin: Zhoujuan Meng (HK), Deborah Herold (IND), Kezia Varghese (IND); Team Pursuit: Hong Kong (4:43:197), Kazakhstan (4:52:891), India
Junior: Nayana Rajesh (IND, 12.865), Anu Chutia (IND, 13.178), Hoi Wah Leung (HK, 13.644)
Men
Elite: Sprint: Feng Shih Kang (TPE, 11.309), Ali Askari (IRI, 11.412), Shih Hsin Hsiao (TPE, 11.684); Keirin: Shih Feng Kang (TPE), Mohd. Daneshvar Khorram (IRI), Ali Askari (IRI); Points race (30km): Ka Yu Leung (HK), Chun Wing Leung (HK), Yousif Alhammadi (UAE)
Junior: Sprint: Chun Long Leung (HK), Tsz Chun Law (HK), Sanuraj P. Sanandaraj (IND); Keirin: Tsz Chun Law (HK), Chun Long Leung (HK), Emerson (IND); Points race (15km): Iogan Shtein (KAZ), Dmitriy Lessechko (KAZ), Semyon Sevastyanov (UZB)
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