Sarah Lee Wai-sze wins her first gold of 2013 Asian Cycling Championships
World champion crushes rivals in time trial to make up for sprint disappointment
Sarah Lee Wai-sze took her first gold of the Asian Cycling Championships in the women's time trial in New Delhi yesterday.
After failing earlier in the competition to reach the medal race in the sprint, in which she was the defending champion, the Olympic bronze medallist made no mistake in the 500-metre time trial, in which she won gold at the world championships in Minsk, Belarus, last month.
The 25-year-old defending champion (pictured) was in a class of her own, completing the two-lap race in 34.31 seconds, a new championship record. Although slower than the Asian record of 33.939 she set in 2010, it was still well beyond the rest of the field.
Shi Jingjing of China was second, almost a second behind in 35.088, while third went to Fateha Mustapa of Malaysia (35.581).
"She is very strong in the time trial and we are happy to see her defend her title successfully in New Delhi," Hong Kong Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak said.
"The result should give her a big boost before she races in the keirin tomorrow. She has the quality to win it as the Olympic Games bronze medallist of the event, but she should not take things for granted because anything can happen in a keirin race, where a minor mistake can rob you of the gold medal."
With three golds so far, Hong Kong still need to work hard to match their medal tally of six at the last Asian championships in Kuala Lumpur.
"We finished first in the medal standings last year and although it will be difficult to make it this time, we have a chance to equal our own record if we can do well in the road races," added Leung.
The road races start on Wednesday with Choi Ki-ho, Kwok Ho-ting and Cheung King-wai competing in the mass start and time trial. Wong Kam-po, now a coach of the team, won the road race in Kuala Lumpur aged 38.
