M'sian Riders Fatehah, Josiah Win Gold Medals On Final Day Of ACC 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysian riders seemed to have saved their best for the last by sweeping both the keirin gold medals on the final day of the Asian Cycling Championships at the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome here Sunday. Elite women rider Fatehah Mustapa (second from right) and elite men rider Josiah Ng (second from left), making his first appearance in front of the local fans in almost a decade, swept the women's and men's keirin gold medals in contrasting styles. En route to winning the gold, Josiah Ng pipped Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (right) who was making his first appearance after recovering from a freak accident and injury last year while Fatehah overcome a Chinese and Hong Kong rider to claim the gold. In doing so, Fatehah, 23, created her own history in the championships after becoming the first women in the country to win a gold medal at the Asian Cycling Championships. "I am delighted with the win and will cherish this memory for a long time. I was really satisfied with my ride today. I have not won a medal in keirin for the past two years," said Fatehah who beat China's Xu Yulei and Hong Kong's Lee Wai Sze who finished second and third respectively. She added that her performance today may open the door to her first ever Olympic games and hopes to be on the flight to the 2012 London Olympics. "I am currently behind Chinese rider Guo Shuang while third placed Hong Kong rider Lee Wai Sze is a distant third. With the points collected today I may be in a better position," she said. Fatehah who had also won a silver from the Sprint event and a bronze from the 500m Time Trial earlier, said if she made it to the London Olympics, she would not set any lofty target for herself but rather concentrate on performing well. Meanwhile, Josiah Ng said he was extremely happy to lead a 1-2 finish for the country as well as win his first gold medal in the ACC. "I guess I am a late bloomer, but better late than never. There are two reasons for winning. First, it is because we have the best team...Azizul was second. When Azizul came along, everybody thought I was finished. "But the opposite happened. He inspired me, may be I inspired him when he was young. I am right here and kicking," said Josiah, the Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Asian Games silver medallist. The two gold medals won today helped Malaysia finish third overall in the medal tally with 3 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze while Hong Kong took top spot with a 5-3-4 tally to pip China who ended with a 4-2-2 tally. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA