Gift of gold – Hong Kong cyclist Leung Chun-wing celebrates birthday with World Cup victory
The 24-year-old partners Cheung King-lok to the title in Minsk, Belarus while Sarah Lee is beaten in the women’s sprint quarter-finals
Hong Kong track cyclist Leung Chun-wing celebrated his 24th birthday in style, giving himself the perfect gift of a World Cup victory in the men’s madison in Minsk on Saturday (Sunday morning Hong Kong time).
Joined by partner Cheung King-lok, who won a silver in the points race the previous day in the Belarus capital, the duo came first in the gruelling 120-lap, 30km race with 30 points. Second place went to Roy Pieters and Wim Stroetinga, of the Netherlands (27 points), while Rui Oliveira and Ivo Oliveira, of Portugal (25 points), came third.
“There were some nervous moments before the race as we haven’t performed well in this season’s World Cup series and the feeling is just so good to make it in the fifth and final leg, especially because it was completed on my birthday,” said Leung. “What a gift!”
Leung, a former world junior champion in the points race who also represented Hong Kong in the omnium at the Rio Olympic Games, praised partner Cheung for his contribution.
“We knew we had the ability but just needed some on-field experience to make it. Thanks to my partner and his brother King-wai who is our coach, one worked with me on the track and one used his words and experience to encourage me on the trackside so I can perform my best.