Crash injures cyclists at Asian Games points race
By DENNIS PASSA, Associated Press
Nov 16, 2010 1:11 AM CST
China's Tang Kerong, top, crashes as Japan's Mayuko Hagiwara, No 9, hits Hong Kong's Wong Wan Yiu, on the ground, in the final of the women's Points Race at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)   (Associated Press)

Wong Wan Yiu's tears on the Asian Games medal podium Tuesday had nothing to do with joy. The Hong Kong cyclist had just survived a multi-bike crash and might have broken her ribs or an arm.

Wong was involved in the crash but managed to finish the race to claim a silver medal behind winner Liu Xin of China.

"It was terribly painful, I could feel that there was a bike bumping against my ribs," Wong said when asked about her tears on the podium. "I never thought to give up."

Hong Kong coach Shen Jinkang helped stabilize Wong after the accident.

"She hurts," Shen said. "She might have a fracture. In order to make her stand firm on the platform we had to use a board to support her. Her pulse was 207 per minute when she finished the race. She suffered a lot but she is really strong."

Another Hong Kong cyclist, Diao Xiao Juan, dislocated her shoulder and was among five who could not finish the race which began with 17 cyclists. The points race is 80 laps (20 kilometers) and competitors can accumulate points during eight sprints, where the action can get fast and furious.

"Right then she could not move," Shen said. "Before the accident she had 28 points and had a chance to win the gold."

Japan coach Koji Yoshii said Mayuko Hagiwara fell twice during the race, and during the second crash she injured her back. But she continued to finish fifth.

Gold medalist Liu said no one was to blame for the accident.

"It wasn't caused by someone doing something deliberate," she said. "Crashes often happen..."

There were far fewer dramatics in the men's track cycling race. Cho Ho-sung claimed a gold medal at four editions of the Asian Games over 16 years, helping South Korea to victory in the team pursuit.

Cho won his first Asian Games gold in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1994. He and teammate Jang Sun-jae have won five golds overall, the most successful track cyclists in Asian Games history.

It was the 36-year-old Cho's first Asian Games in eight years _ he missed the last edition in Doha because he was racing professionally.

"I have been preparing for one year with my coach and colleagues," Cho said, adding that the 2012 Olympics could be part of his future.

"There are still two years until London," Cho said. "The Asian Games was my first goal so the most difficult time has passed. I'm not sure about London, other members of the Korean team are very talented. It's my goal, but I cannot say that I will do it."

South Korea beat Hong Kong in the gold medal final, while China defeated Iran for bronze.

In the men's team event, Taiwan beat Uzbekistan 2-1, clinching the match in the deciding doubles. Taiwan was playing without top singles seed Lu Yen-hsun, who pulled out of his team match Monday with an undisclosed injury.

In the Asian Games pool, South Korea's Park Tae-hwan, the Olympic gold medalist over 400 meters, qualified only fifth for the night final in his specialty event.

"I'm getting old, so it is more exhausting to swim 400 meters than three years ago," Park said. "Although I will swim in lane two tonight, it will OK, I will be positive."

The 21-year-old Park gave South Korea its first swim gold on Sunday with victory in the 200 freestyle in an Asian record time.

WTA Tour regulars Peng Shuai and Li Na led China to gold in the women's team tennis final Tuesday. Peng beat Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan 6-3, 7-5 to give China a 1-0 lead, then former top 10 player Li beat Chan Yung-jan 6-1, 6-1, to clinch the match.

A total of 37 gold medals are on offer Tuesday. China continued to pull away in the standings, moving to 58 golds and more than 100 medals overall early on the fourth day of competition. South Korea is in second place in the gold race with 19, followed by Japan with 13.

China added to its total with two golds in canoe/kayak and Geng Xiaoling's win in the Changquan event in the martial arts of Wushu.

See 5 more photos