Last chance for Sarah Lee to atone for poor results in Cali
Keirin event is final opportunity for Hong Kong's star rider to return home with a medal
Sarah Lee Wai-sze has one last chance to make up for a disappointing Track Cycling World Championships when she contests the keirin in Cali, Colombia.
After failing to defend her 500-metre time-trial title and with a defeat in the last eight of the sprint, Lee faces the possibility of returning home empty-handed.
Hong Kong's top rider won a gold and a bronze medal respectively in the latter two events at the last world championships in Minsk a year ago.
The keirin, one of the most exciting sprint events, will not be easy for Lee. Defending champion Rebecca James of Britain is also keen to make up for a defeat in the sprint, but hot favourite Kristina Vogel is the obstacle.
The German rider has taken two gold at the Cali oval - the team sprint with compatriot Miriam Welte and the individual sprint where she was unbeaten all the way to the title.
The 23-year-old is also the keirin champion in the first two legs of the World Cup series this season in which Lee finished fourth on both occasions.
But Lee, the 2012 Olympic Games keirin bronze medallist, is known for her fighting spirit and surprising against the odds.
She is drawn in group three in the opening round where she will take on another favourite, Anna Meares of Australia, Jessica Vanish of Britain, Sandie Claire of France and Olena Tsos of Ukraine.
Only the top finisher goes straight to the next round, while the remaining four face a repêchage.
In the men's events, Cheung King-lok, who has won the only medal for Hong Kong so far in Cali - a bronze in the scratch race - will team up with Leung Chun-wing in the madison, while Diao Xiaojuan still has three events left in the women's omnium.
The 27-year-old is 14th after the first three events out of 17 riders.
In the women's points race, Wong Wan-yiu managed 11th despite repeated attacks in the 25km event.
