New Delhi: Manorama Devi and Deborah clinched a silver medal each to register India’s best-ever performance in a cycling competition, at the Asian Cycling Championships here on Monday.
Manorama, who won silver in the Keirin’s race, lifted the Indian spirits after Deborah’s fighting loss to Korea rider earlier in the day.
Both Manorama and Deborah were in contention in the eight-lap long Keirin race (where track cyclists sprint for victory following a speed-controlled start behind a motorised or non-motorised pacer), but it was Manorama who mesmerised the Indian fans with her a resolute run in the last 50 metres.
The 16-year-old Manipur cyclist rallied from fifth spot to achieve her second podium finish in the event.
“I was looking for space to go ahead. The strategy was to stay as close as possible to other riders. Fortunately, I got an opening in the last 50 metres from the left-hand side and I gave it my all,” a jubilant Manorama told reporters.
Manorama fell short by just 0.131 seconds to Yu Shiou Cheng of Taiwan, who won the gold, while the bronze went to Korea’s Yeonhee Jang.
Deborah, however, finished last in the six-rider race as she was blocked by the Koreans.
Meanwhile, in the final of the junior women sprint race, India’s hope of bagging its first-ever gold at the Asian Cycling Championships was dashed after Deborah lost her gold-medal play-off race to Korea’s Yeonhee Jang.
Yeonhee won the first heat, but Deborah pushed the contest into a final round by winning the second.
An alert Yeonhee stayed ahead of the Indian in the decider and Deborah was left to settle for silver, finishing 0.356 seconds behind the Korean. (PTI)
