Double gold for a fallen friend

DAY two of the African Continental Track Championships began with a moment of silence observed for Egyptian cyclist Eslam Nasser Zaki at the Cyril Geoghegan Cycle Stadium in Durban on Human Right’s Day yesterday.

Riders and officials wore black armbands and flags were at half-mast in honour of him.

The 22-year-old was competing in the Elite men’s Omnium-Tempo race on Monday when he suddenly fell off his bicycle and, after prolonged attempts to resuscitate him, was declared dead. The afternoon’s events were suspended.

His teammate, Ebtissam Zayed lapped up the gold medals in the Elite Women’s Individual Pursuit and Keirin events yesterday, and the silver medal in the Team Time Trial (also with Donia Rashwan) events.

Olympian Zayed claimed the gold medal in the Elite Women’s Individual Pursuit, with South Africa’s Charlene du Preez riding into the silver medal spot.

Danielle van Niekerk, won the pursuit over Absolute Motion’s Julie Lee, claimed the bronze medal.

The Egyptian team celebrated another victory soon after when Zayed won the Elite Women’s Keirin final ahead of South Africa’s Bernette Beyers in second and Strasse Panda Team’s Jennifer Abbot in third.

Zayed was thrilled with her victories, and dedicated each win to her fallen teammate and friend.

“I don’t know if I am happy or sad because I won two gold medals today, but I lost my friend yesterday,” she said.

“I give him these two gold medals today. I know he’s not with me, but I give them to him anyway,” she added.

Zayed said she was emotionally and physically tired.

“We had so many events today because yesterday’s was cancelled, and it’s very hot as well, so it’s made me very tired.”

The final two races of the Elite Men’s Omnium event – Elimination and Points race – also took place in the morning session of the second day, and were won by Evan Carstens and Nolan Hoffman respectively.

This contributed to Hoffman winning the overall gold medal for points accumulated in the Omnium events, with Carstens in second and Clint Hendricks in third.

Team South Africa dominated the Team Pursuit in the Elite Men’s category with Got It Global and Giant coming second and Future Stars Cycling Academy in third.

In the Elite Men’s Team Sprint, Team Giant took the honours ahead of Team South Africa in second and Seychelles in third. – Sports Reporter