Pannarong Kongsamut and Banna Kamfu surprised the field by winning the men's downhill and women's road race in the 1998 Games in Bangkok. Ever since, no other Thai cyclist has come close to finishing among the top three in the Asiad.

The fact that the Thai team returned from Busan four years ago empty-handed clearly explains how competitive the cycling events were and where the level of Thai cycling is. Not surprisingly, the Cycling Association of Thailand (Cat) set a very modest target for its athletes in the continental event where only China, South Korea, Japan and Kazakhstan have the ability to take top honours.

"To be honest, it's difficult for our athletes to compete with their counterparts from these countries. In the SEA Games, we can win something but in the Asian Games, it's almost impossible,'' bemoaned Maj Gen Decha Hemkrasri , the Cat Secretary-General.

"We set a very humble target of finishing between third and fifth positions. If we are lucky enough, we could win a bronze, but that will be very difficult,'' added the Cat executive official.

Decha pointed out that lack of sprinting ability was the main factor that is stopping Thai cyclists from posing a challenge to their foreign rivals.

"In Malaysia, our cyclists could catch up with South Koreans and Chinese halfway through but in terms of sprint, we were not as fast as they were. Sprinting ability is more of a personal talent which cannot be taught. It's something that has been missing from our athletes,'' Decha said.

Despite being aware of their limitations and inability, the national team, comprising two stars Chanpeng Nontasin and Banna, has been intensively training at Doi Inthanon, in Chiang Mai, for the past six months. Decha said training at altitudes high above sea level could boost the oxygen in the cyclists' bodies which would make them stronger when they return to the plains.

Both Chanpeng and Banna, who, in fact, are the only Thais who have earned their slots in Doha, will start their training on the inline road race from November 17 before they depart for the Gulf on December 1.

Chanpeng is the main hope for Thailand in the Asian Games, judging by the results from the Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur in September. She crossed the line fifth in the women's road race behind South Korean Songhee Han, Chinese Yong Li Liu, South Korean Min Hye Lee and Chinese Lang Meng.

Despite rating his cyclists as underdogs, Decha has some faint hopes that they could still emerge medallists if other competitors block one another during the races and take the Thais for granted. That was the case when Banna won the gold medal eight years ago.

"If they block each other and forget to keep their eyes on us, that could pave the way for us. Sometimes, we need a little luck to turn things around,'' Decha said.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation