MANILA — China emerged as the overall leader at the 45th Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track Cycling Championships and the 14th Asian Para Track Cycling Championships, securing the most medals at the event held at the Tagaytay City Velodrome.
China finished the competition with an impressive total of 18 gold, 10 silver, and one bronze medal, topping the overall standings of the continental meet that concluded Tuesday evening.
Japan placed second in the medal rankings with seven gold, seven silver, and 10 bronze medals, while South Korea followed with five gold, nine silver, and seven bronze medals. Kazakhstan ended fourth with four gold, five silver, and two bronze, and Chinese Taipei rounded out the top five with three gold, four silver, and five bronze medals.
Japan’s cyclists drew attention during the tournament as they competed using track bikes reportedly valued at around PHP7 million each.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong, China, and Uzbekistan each secured three gold medals, while Malaysia claimed two golds. India and Singapore each earned one silver medal, while Indonesia collected two bronze medals.
In the para track cycling events, Uzbekistan led the standings with 17 gold, 10 silver, and seven bronze medals. Malaysia placed second with nine gold, six silver, and two bronze medals, followed by South Korea with nine gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. Japan finished fourth with seven gold, two silver, and three bronze medals, while the United Arab Emirates placed fifth with three gold, five silver, and two bronze medals.
Asian Cycling Confederation president Dató Amarjit Singh commended Tagaytay City and PhilCycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino for successfully organizing the championships. Participants, including athletes and coaches, also praised the event’s organization and the hospitality extended by the host city.
Tolentino said the successful staging of the championships highlights the growing importance of the Tagaytay City Velodrome in international track cycling.
Nearly 600 cyclists from 16 countries competed in the tournament, making it one of the largest cycling events hosted by the Philippines in recent years.
Tolentino acknowledged that the Philippines is still developing its track cycling program but expressed optimism that hosting the championships will encourage more athletes, supporters, and sponsors to get involved in the sport.
The event also marked a historic moment for the country, which last hosted the Asian track cycling championships 31 years ago in 1995 at the now-demolished Amoranto Velodrome.
Among the highlights for the Philippine team were Patrick Gerard Lee’s bronze medal in the para men’s elite scratch race and Zedrick Ivan Honorica’s new national record in the flying 200 meters.
Tolentino said these achievements show that Filipino cyclists have the potential to compete in track cycling at the continental level.
IA/XF
