Chanpeng takes bronze very quietly
[CYCLING] As all eyes were on Danai Udomchoke brushing aside Korean Lee Hyung-taik and winning an unexpected tennis gold, cyclist Chanpeng Nontasin quietly won a bronze medal for Thailand in the women's point race event.
A total of 15 cyclists, including two Thais, took part in the gruelling race, which covered 100 laps (25km) with 10 sprints inside the Aspire Velodrome. China's Li Yan, 28, who hails from Beijing, stole the limelight after collecting 24 points. Korean Lee Min-hye, the 3km individual pursuit gold medallist at this year's Asian Championships in Kuala Lumpur, came in second place just one point behind Li. Lee has already won a gold medal in the women's individual pursuit event. Thailand's Chanpeng finished a distant third with 11 points. Team-mate Banna Kamfoo, gold medallist at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, was below-par as she finished a disappointing 14th with no points. "It's difficult to win a medal in this discipline. I'm very tired. The last two laps were the toughest. I never thought I could make it. However, when I turned back, I saw others chasing me very closely. I thought I am not going to give up this way. I had just one thing in my mind - cross the finish line as fast as possible. I gave it all I could," said Chanpeng, 22. "I'm very delighted. At least, we are not returning to Thailand empty-handed. The one thing I will do upon reaching Thailand is to go back to school, train much harder for next year's SEA Games and hope for the best thing there." Preechachan Wiriyanupappong The Nation Doha
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