South Korea’s Jang equals Games gold record

South Korea's Jang Sun-Jsae captured his fourth Asian Games career gold in cycling.

South Korea’s Jang Sun-Jsae captured his fourth Asian Games career gold on Sunday with victory in the individual pursuit to equal the record for most titles in Asiad track cycling.

The Koreans also picked up a silver in the women’s 3,000 metre individual pursuit in the shape of Lee Min-Hye. “In qualifying I broke the Asian Games record,” said Jang.

“And today in the first round I did it again,one second faster. In the final I tried to break it for a third time but didn’t make it. Anyway I was confident I would get the gold.”

Jang’s success continues a family tradition in Asiad cycling. “My favourite sport was swimming when I was a child but my father was the gold medallist at the 1982 Asain Games (in the men’s team time trial) so I wanted to take up cycling as my father wished,” said the champion.

Cheung King-Lok won silver to earn Hong Kong a first ever medal in the men’s individual pursuit. “I think my performance today was very good and better than I expected,” said Cheung.

“Before,I just hoped to be in the top six,never thinking of being in the top three,so I’m very excited.”

It was the second memorable day for Hong Kong on the track after Lee Wai Sze defeated champion and favourite Guo Shuang and set a new Asian record in the women’s 500m time trial.

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Cheung,19,said Lee’s upset had inspired him. “She got a gold medal yesterday and I heard the result when I was prearing for the individual pursuit qualification — that encouraged me a lot,” he said.

Asked what his future ambitions were,he replied: “Changing the colour of this medal.”

Lee Min-Hye was full of praise for the Chinese cyclists,who won two of the three golds going begging,including in the men’s team sprint and women’s individual pursuit.

“They are top class,” said Lee,whose silver was sandwiched by a gold for China’s Jiang Fan and bronze for fellow Chinese Wu Chaomei. “I don’t know how they train,but they are excellent and we’ve been lagging behind in technique. China and the Europeans will be the main nations at the 2012 London Olympics,” said Lee.

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China’s winning men’s team sprint team,which included Zhang Lei and brother Miao,said their sights were on getting better still.

A triumphant Cheng Changsong,who rode the first lap for the Chinese,silver winners in Doha four years ago,said: “It’s our dream to win this gold medal because Japan are very strong opposition,but we were better today.”

Teammate Zhang Lei added: “Our aim is to do better in the coming World Cup and the London Olympics in 2012. “In 2008 we were ranked nine but we hope to be in the top three in London.” Japan finished second with Iran taking bronze.