Asian Games: Sarah Lee outguns rivals for gold glory in Incheon
Champion rider is already looking forward to celebrating with her family - especially her 95-year-old grandma - after securing the keirin
Two Asian Games, two gold medals - no wonder Hong Kong star Sarah Lee Wai-sze loves this competition.
On Sunday she won Hong Kong's first gold in Incheon with victory in the women's keirin, to go with the 500m gold she won in Guangzhou four years ago.
Despite an unusual outdoor 333-metre track - track cycling events are normally contested on 250m indoor courses - Lee thrashed her rivals with an overwhelming win.
My heart is feeling great now but I have to contain my excitement because there is still the sprint race. I must stay calm so that I can deliver my best
Lee is now targeting another medal in the sprint competition on Tuesday , but is already looking forward to celebrating with family - especially her elderly grandmother - after a gruelling training camp in Korea.
"I haven't seen my family and friends for about two months and I miss them so much," she said. "My grandma is already 95 and I always think I won't get any chance to see her again. I hope I can go back for two or three days' holiday after this and have dinner with them."
But Lee won't be calling anyone at home until after the sprint race, so focused is she on bagging another gold.
Fatehah Binti Mustapa, of Malaysia, was a surprising second, while Zhong Tianshi, who won a team sprint gold with Gong Jinjie the previous day, was third. Another favourite, Lin Junhong of China, was disqualified.
"I did not realise it was also the first gold for Hong Kong in Incheon," said Lee, 27. "Nonetheless it was a great job accomplished.
"My heart is feeling great now but I have to contain my excitement because there is still the sprint race. I must stay calm so that I can deliver my best.
"This is my second Asian Games and I know the importance of early preparation. But this cannot happen without a strong support team, who also played a great part in today's success," she said.
"There were initially some worries after we found out about the 333-metre track, but they were all gone after we had such great preparation."
Coach Shen Jinkang said he knew Lee would win after she broke clear with one of the six laps left. "Her sprinting has improved after a month of hard training and it was going to be too difficult for other riders to catch her, not even the two Chinese sprinters," he said.
"Her form is good and the preparation was done well. We had great confidence in her even before the race. She showed great self-control after winning the race, knowing she still has to race in the sprint."
Meanwhile, the men's pursuit team lost in the first round to South Korea, failing to make the medal race. They were hit by a mechanical problem and eventually finished fifth overall.
The women's team pursuit had a great start in the heats, finishing second in a five-team race, just behind China. Jaime Wong Wan-yiu, Diao Xiaojuan, Meng Zhaojuan and Leung Po-yee will take on South Korea for a place in the final.
