Nakai Asuma (R) of Japan competes during the men's cycling BMX racing at the 19th Asian Games in Chun'an, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)
HANGZHOU, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Asuma Nakai took home the gold medal of men's BMX Cycling Racing Sunday at the Hangzhou Asiad.
The 23-year-old finished with 37.542 seconds in the final, followed by Thailand's Komet Sukprasert's 38.478 seconds. The Philippines' Patrick Bren Coo claimed the bronze medal.
"I came to the Asiad with the gold medal as my goal, and I'm thrilled to have achieved it," said Nakai, "Standing on the podium at the Hangzhou Asian Games has reignited my spirit and mindset, and I believe I can achieve great results at the Olympics next year."
Amellya Nur Sifa (1st R) of Indonesia competes during the women's cycling BMX racing at the Hangzhou Asian Games in Chun'an, Oct. 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu huhu)
In the fiercely contested women's BMX Cycling Racing, Indonesia's Amellya Nur Sifa clinched the gold medal, with China's Gu Quanquan earning the silver and Indonesia's Jasmine Azzahra Setyobudi securing the bronze.
During the medal ceremony, the winner was overwhelmed with emotion, shedding tears of joy as she watched Indonesian flag being hoisted.
"I'm delighted to be here in this beautiful country participating at the Asian Games, and I'm extremely grateful to have won the gold today," she said. ■
