India shine on Day 1 of Asian Track Cycling Championships, bag 10 medals

The opening day of the 41st Senior, 28th Junior Asian Track and 10th Para Track Cycling Championships witnessed 12 finals out of which four were for Para Championships. The Indians clinched one silver and six bronze medals in the senior and junior events, while one gold, one silver and one bronze were won in the Para events. The Indian team opened its tally with a silver medal in the junior women's 4km team pursuit event with Pooja Dhanole, Himanshi Singh, Reet Kapoor and Jasmeek Kaur Sekhon clocking 4:54.034s against Korean riders KIM Chaeyeon, Cheon Yunyeong, Kim Eunsong, AN Yeongseo, who clocked 4:47.360s to win the gold.

Kazakhstan bagged the bronze with a timing of 4:48.872s. In senior women's 4km team pursuit event, the Indian riders consisting of Rejiye Kh Devi, Chayanika Gogoi, Meenakshi and Monika Jat outclassed Uzbekistan riders Evegeniya Golotina, Madina Kakhkhorova, Margarita Misyurina, Yania Kuskova to secure a bronze medal by clocking 4:44.699s. After a gap of 17 years, the Indian team won a medal in the senior women's category in any Asian Track Cycling Championships.

Gold and silver in the event were won by Korea (Jumi Lee, Jieun Shin, Youri Kim, Ahreum Na) and Kazakhstan respectively. The Indians clinched another bronze when Niraj Kumar, Birjit Yumnam, Aashirwad Saxena and Gurnoor Poonia combined to clock 4:22.737s and finish third in the junior men's 4km team pursuit event. Kazakhstan won the gold while Korea bagged the silver.

India secured another bronze in the senior men's 4km team pursuit event. Japan won the gold while Korea bagged the silver. India chief coach VN Singh was a proud man after the display of the home team on the opening day.