New Delhi. Star cyclist Ronaldo Singh created history by finishing second in the senior sprint event on the final day of the Asian Track Championships on Wednesday. He became the first Indian cyclist to win a silver medal in a continental tournament. Ronaldo’s achievement is the best performance by an Indian cyclist in the continental championship. On Wednesday, he gave a tough challenge to veteran Japanese rider Kento Yamasaki but could only finish second.
Yamasaki beat Ronaldo in successive races to win the gold medal while topping the podium. Andre Chuge of Kazakhstan won the bronze medal of the event. Onkar Singh, chairman of the Cycling Federation of India, said, “It (Ronaldo’s silver) was the first silver medal by an Indian at the Asian Championships. No Indian has won a gold medal in our history. That’s why his silver medal winning is the best performance by an Indian in a continental championship.
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Ronaldo Singh is also the General Secretary of the Asian Cycling Confederation. This was Ronaldo’s third medal in the championship. He had earlier won bronze medals in the 1km time trial and team sprint events. In the morning, Ronaldo had defeated Andre Chuge of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals. This Indian was defeated in the first race but returned to win the next two races and entered the final.
Ronaldo said after the victory, ‘I had a gold medal in my mind, but still I am happy because this is my first silver medal. This is the best performance of my career. My technique has improved in every tournament, that’s the most important thing.
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On Tuesday, world junior champion and Asian record holder Ronaldo set a national record in the 200m flying time trial and advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s elite sprint race event. The home team won 1 silver and 2 bronze on the final day. Indian junior cyclist Birjit Yumnam won the bronze medal in the 15km point race with 23 points. Korea’s Sungyeon Lee took the silver with 24 points and Farooq Bobosherov of Uzbekistan took the gold.
Chhayanika Gogoi was an astonishing cyclist back in the day. The 19-year-old cyclist opened India’s account with a bronze medal by beating Kazakhstan’s medal contender Rinata Sultanova in the 10km women’s scratch race final. Yoyuri Kim took the gold and Japan’s Kie Furuyama took the silver.
The Asian Junior and Para Championships were also held simultaneously at the Velodrome of Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Some cycles also collided in 10 finals on the last day. Japan topped the combined medal tally with 18 gold, seven silver and two bronze. The Indian cycling team finished fifth in the World Class field with 23 medals (2 gold, 6 silver and 15 bronze). Korea finished second with 12 gold, 14 silver and 3 bronze medals, while Kazakhstan secured the third position with 4 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze.
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Tags: Cycle, Sports news
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 22, 2022, 22:09 IST