Awe-Som return
National cyclist wins women’s 10km scratch race in Taiwan
Woman cyclist Jupha Somnet (pic) has made a spectacular return to top-level competition – and that’s good news for Malaysia ahead of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August. Jupha, who took nearly a year off to join the police force before returning to training in March, won the women’s 10km scratch race in the Taiwan Track International Classic at the Hsinchu City Velodrome. The 24-year-old prevailed against an impressive field to become the first Malaysian woman cyclist to triumph in a Class 1-ranked track endurance event.
PETALING JAYA: Woman cyclist Jupha Somnet has made a spectacular comeback to top-level competition – and that’s good news for Malaysia ahead of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August.
Jupha, who took nearly a year off to join the police force before returning to training in March, won the women’s 10km scratch race in the Taiwan Track International Classic at the Hsinchu City Velodrome yesterday.
The 24-year-old prevailed against an impressive field to become the first Malaysian woman cyclist to triumph in a Class 1-ranked track endurance event.
Diao Xiao Juan of Hong Kong, the 2016 women’s scratch Asian champion, took silver while Japan’s 2015 world junior champion Nao Suzuki got the bronze.
Jupha also bagged a silver in the women’s omnium – chalking up 138 points to finish behind Suzuki (148pts).
Japan’s Yuya Hashimoto (127pts) took bronze while Malaysia’s Grace Phang (89pts) was seventh.
The omnium is track cycling’s most gruelling contest. It comprises six events – 250m flying start time trial, 5km scratch race, elimination race, individual pursuit, 10km points race and 500m time trial.
Jupha just missed out on qualifying for the omnium event at the Rio Olympics last year. She was ranked fifth in Asia but only the top four qualified for Rio.
Jupha now has a chance to prove her worth in SEA Games as track cycling makes a return this August. She will focus on both track and road events.
Besides the omnium, she will also ride in the women’s road race.
“This win is a boost for me as I prepare for the SEA Games. I took part in omnium in the China Track Cup last month but finished sixth.
“My fitness is improving and I’ll be ready for the SEA Games.
“My target is the omnium gold,” said Jupha, who is also the 2016 Asian Cycling Championships bronze medallist in women’s scratch.
Malaysia also bagged a silver in the men’s 15km scratch through Irwandie Lakasek in the Taiwan meet on Wednesday.
Jupha, Grace and Irwandie left for Melbourne, Australia, yesterday for the final training camp for the KL Games.