Greater Noida: Prasanta Karmakar, the para-swimmer-turned-cyclist, made a stunning entry into the para-cycling sport, doing India proud by bagging 2 gold medals for the country at the Hero Asian Para-Cycling Championships held at the Buddha International Circuit here today.
But India had more to cheer in its maiden appearance in the para-cycling world as India also bagged 3 silver and 2 bronze – winning 7 medals at the Hero Asian Para-Cycling Championships.
Karmakar, competing in MC 5 class of the Individual Time Trial, clocked 16:55.860 seconds to outwit his Indian rival Sachin Verma who finished in 17:15.590 seconds in 10 km event.
The two Indian riders wasn’t done yet and lined up again in the 40 km Individual Road Race with the country’s most decorated para-swimmer striking gold for the second time in the day, followed by his Indian counterpart Sachin Verma. While Karmakar finished with a timing of 1:13.31 seconds, Verma clocked 1:14.31 seconds to make it an all India affair at the podium.
Considering that the Indian para-cyclists were competing in the Asian championships for the first time, the seven-medal haul is a very good beginning and augurs well for the country. “It was my first experience as a cyclist. I never expected to do so well as I practised for just 2 to 3 months coming into the Hero Asian Para Cycling Championship. All credit to Cycling Federation of India for giving me this opportunity as well as helping me out with the equipment,” said Karmakar.
Verma, who has nine international medals in para-swimming also, did appreciate his rival’s effort on the road. “He, indeed, proved a better cyclist. I couldn’t handle the heat and windy conditions. But I am happy I could come close to Prasanta’s timing,” said Verma, who hails from Jabalpur.
India made its first date with para cycling all the more memorable when Aditya Mehta and Alok Mondal bagged 2 silver and 2 bronze medals respectively in MC 3 class in the road race category (10 kms and 40 kms). In the 10 km road event, gold went to South Korean Yongsik Jin who clocked 13:51.847, followed by Hyderabad-based Aditya taking silver with a timing of 18:11.297 while the bronze went to Alok, who finished ahead of two more Indians — Dharmender Kumar and Chetan Upadhayay — in fray in this category. Mondal clocked 18:39.536.
‘’Winning in an event such as this give us the confidence to look forward with a lot more hope. We hope to represent India and get more exposure in the times to come,‘’ said Aditya.
As for the paray-cycling event here, the real contest was between the Koreans and Malaysians. Yet, on MC 4 category, Filipino Arthus Bucay claimed the gold ahead of Malaysian Muhammad Jaib Turano for the silver. The event also saw Godfrey Taberna, also from the Philippines, competing but Taberna would not get a medal since the event had only three entrants.
Malaysia also won gold in MC 2 category, while it was Korea all the way in other events, including MC which, apart from the rider, has a pilot occupying the front seat of the cycle to guide the rider pedaling from behind. The category, also known as tandem, has to have certain kind of a coordination and the Korans proved far better than the Malaysians.
Results:
Individual Time Trial
MB Class 2 lap (20km): Jonggiu Kim (Korea) 22:35.465, Mohd. Khairul Hazwan Wahab (Malaysia) 24:16.943, Mohd. Yusaini 25:01.54 (Malaysia); MC 5: 1 lap 10 km: Prashant Karmakar (India) 16:55.860, Sachin Verma (India) 17.15.590; MC 4 1 lap 10 km: Arthus Bucay (Philippines) 12:42.361, Muhd Najib Turano (Malaysia); Gordfrey Taberna (Philippines) 14:11.716; MC 3 1 lap 10km: Yongsik Jin (Korea) 13:51.847, J.Aditya Mehta (India) 18:11.297, Alok Mondal (India) 18:39.536; MC 2 1 lap 10 km: Mohd. Saifuddin Rosli (Malysia) 14:38.691, Abhishek Kumar (India) 16:13.098; WH2-WH-310km: Senungmi (Korea) 16:42.704, Jungim Kim (Korea) 17:57.707; MH3 1 lap 10km: Jeonggwan Yang (Korea) 16:04.525, Hyoseok Kwon (Korea) 16:33.235; MH2 1 lap 10km: Yongki Kim (Korea) 14:52.963, Kihyun Kwon (Korea) 15:06.444. MC 5: 40 km: Prasanta Karmakar (India) 1:13.31, Sachin Verma (India) 1.14.31. MC 3 40km: Yongsik Jin (Korea) 1:33, Aditya Mehta (India) Alok Mondal (India)
By Indian Sports News Network
