Cyclists bag 6 medals in Asia Cup

India’s men and women elite cyclists opened their campaigns at the Track Asia Cup with six medals — two gold, three silver and a bronze — at the IG Stadium Velodrome here on Wednesday.

Promising SAI National Cycling Academy trainee Amritha Reghunathan launched India’s medal hunt with gold in the 500m junior women’s category race, winning in 39.927s. She was followed home by Anu Chutia who clocked 40.093 seconds.

In women’s elite event of 500m race distance, 20-year-old Deborah managed silver in a new national record time of 35.776s after losing to Korea’s Kim Wangyeong who finished in 35.179s.

Deborah improved her own national record of 37.680s in the same event which she created in the National Games early this year in Kerala.

“I’m happy that I have improved my record but it would have been better if I have won the gold medal. “I still have to compete in my favourite events including the keirin and 200m sprint and I’m confident of finishing on top in the events to be played in next two days,” said Deborah.

The junior women’s team of Anu Chutia and Rajesh Nayana won gold in the team sprint event with a time of 39.702s.

Uzbekistan picked up the silver of this event with a timing of 41.852s. Deborah and Kezia Vargheese claimed the silver in the women’s team event clocking 37.402s.

One bronze for India also came in the event in junior men category with the trio of Emerson, Arkaprava Baul and Ranjith Singh clocking 51.067s.