India's men and women elite teams brought cheers to the hosts' camp by winning 5 medals (1Gold, 3 Silver & 1 Bronze) on the opening day of the Track Asia Cup at the IG Stadium Complex Velodrome here on Wednesday.
Anu Chutia opened India’s campaign by winning a silver medal in the 500 meter Race Distance event in the Junior Women category. In the event, there was no match of new cycling sensation SAI National Cycling Academy (SAINCA’s) Amritha Reghunathan (39.927s) who grabbed gold after beating India’s Anu Chutia (40.093).
In Women Elite event of 500m Race Distance, India’s 20 year old Deborah managed to get silver medal in 35.776 seconds, after losing to Korea’s Kim Wangyeong who completed in 35.179 seconds. Deborah improved her own national record of 37.680 seconds in the same event which she created in the National Games early this year in Kerala.
After winning Silver medal Deborah said that ‘I’m happy that I have improved my record but it would have been better if I have won Gold Medal. I still have to compete in my favorite events including ‘Keirin and 200m Sprint’ and I’m confident of finishing on top in the events to be played in next two days.”
While today’s limelight was stolen by India’s new sensation Amritha Reghunathan who is performing from SAINCA team. Her average speed was 45.082 km/hr in 500m time trial. She told after winning Gold that ‘this is just start and you will see India’s cyclists into a new calevar including me. She said that I’m very sure that India will be in first three rank in medal tally.” She also said that “SAI National Cycling Academy is a very good stopover for the juniors because all the facilities are available here.”
Indian Junior Women was much better today and showed very good temperament. Junior Women Team of Anu Chutia and Rajesh Nayana won Gold Medal for India in Team Sprint event with a timing of 39.702s. Uzbekistan won the silver of this event with a timing of 41.852.
While Women elite team of Deborah and Kezia Vargheese won Silver in Team Sprint event with a timing of 37.402 while Korea (35.835) won the Gold of this event.
One Bronze for India also came in Team Sprint event in Junior Men Category where Team of Emerson, Arkaprava Baul & Ranjith Singh showed their best pedaling and clocked 51.067.
Total 7 Final events were held today out of which in 5 events India won Medals. India has fielded two additional teams of SAINCA & Western Indian Team (WIT).
Pics: Deborah and Amritha Reghunathan & Programme Schedule
