Keiko Sugiura of Japan competes at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. (Handout via Xinhua)
Age-defying cyclist Keiko Sugiura embraces new challenges at the Asian Para Games.
HANGZHOU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- 52-year-old Japanese cyclist Keiko Sugiura believes that she has yet to approach the end of her career after clinching two medals and breaking the Games record twice at the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
Sugiura claimed a silver medal in the women's C1-3 3000m individual pursuit on October 23 after dashing the previous C3 class record in the qualifying round in the morning.
In the women's C1-3 500m time trial the following day, Sugiura clinched bronze and set a new Asian Para Games record for the C3 class with a time of 39.995 seconds.
A longtime cycling enthusiast, Sugiura was injured during a road race, resulting in a series of multiple contusions, crushed fractures, brain dysfunction and other injuries.
During her rehabilitation, Sugiura picked up para-cycling and returned to the road afterward. In 2021, Sugiura won the women's C1-5 time trial at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, becoming Japan's oldest-ever para gold medalist.
"I lost my memory because of the injury, but it made me not afraid to race fearlessly," said the 52-year-old, who vowed to continue cycling despite her age. "I keep trying every year, and every year older is a new challenge for me." ■
