Veteran Cheung King-wai rolls back the years with poignant victory

Veteran Cheung King-wai's victory in the men's points race at the Cable TV International Track Cup in Tseung Kwan O yesterday came draped in a lot of symbolic significance.

It was his gold medal success in the same event at the 2006 Doha Asian Games that helped convince the government to build the HK$600 million state-of-the-art velodrome.

"This event is a traditional stronghold of the Hong Kong team, but we don't have many chances to compete these days as it has been dropped from the Olympic programme," said the 29-year-old.

"Whenever we have the chance, we give our best, just as I did today. I would never say it was my effort alone that pushed the government to build the venue. I just play my part as a cyclist and always try to bring glory for Hong Kong."

Wong Kam-po finished 11th in the points race at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and raced in the same event again at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cheung lapped the peloton twice yesterday to clinch victory in the 30km race with 67 points. Team members Leung Chun-wing (64 points) and Leung Ka-yu (51) made it an all-Hong Kong podium.