Hong Kong's Lee claims scratch gold at Asian Track Championships, officials cost Chu medal
Hong Kong cyclist Ceci Lee Sze-wing claimed the first major title of her career on Sunday, winning gold in the scratch race at the Asian Track Championships in Malaysia.
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The 23-year-old's huge career breakthrough changed the mood in the city team's camp, after head coach Herve Dagorne had blasted officials for costing her teammate Chu Tsun-wai a medal in the elimination race 24 hours earlier.
Lee upgraded last year's scratch race silver, after a blistering last lap left home rider Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir trailing home in second at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
'She was proactive and made the right decisions and I am glad she got the reward for her positivity,' Dagorne said.
On Saturday, Chu had been eliminated with four riders remaining, despite clear evidence that the 23-year-old crossed the cut-off line in front of Bernard Van Aert. Indonesian van Aert went on to claim bronze, behind gold medallist Eiya Hashimoto, of Japan, and Korea's Park Sang-hoon in second.
Chu Tsun-wai (light blue) appears to have crossed the elimination race cut-off point ahead of Indonesia's Bernard Van Aert. Photo: Herve Dagorne
A furious Dagorne, who used some colourful language to describe the officials, said officials had cost his rider a podium spot.
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