The 30th Asian Cycling Championships & 17th Asian junior Cycling Championships Opened A New Era For Cycling

The 2010 Asian Track and Road Cycling Championships for Men and Women/Boys and Girls were opened at the Zayed Velodrome in Sharjah, UAE with 31 member National Cycling Federations affiliated to the ACC attended, marking the first Asian Cycling Championships ever held in the western part of the Asian Continent.
 
In his message, Mr. Cho, Hee Wook, ACC President and the UCI Vice President said that it was a historical moment in the sense that we were opening an epoch making era to generate a good momentum for pushing forward cycling in the Asian Continent, especially in the Middle East.
 
In a simple but colorful opening, there was a cultural display highlighted by school girls from Ras Al Khaimah who performed a dance programme. In his opening address, Sheikh Faisal bin Humaid Al-Qassimi, President of the UAE Cycling Federation said it was a great honor for UAE to host such a great cycling event. He expressed his thanks to the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare, Sharjah Sports Council and other governmental bodies for the support. The Opening Ceremony was also attended by Sheikh Issam Bin Saqr Al-Qassimi, Chairman of the Ruler뭩 Office, Sharjah, and many Presidents/ Representatives of the National Cycling Federations affiliated to the ACC.
 
In recognition of Mr. Faisal H. Al-Qassimi뭩 contribution toward promotion of cycling sport and organization of the first Asian Cycling Championships in the Middle East, Mr. Cho, ACC President presented a plaque of appreciation to Sheikh Faisal H. Al-Qassimi at the Opening Ceremony.
 
During the first competition day of the said Championships, the Korean cyclists dominated medals in the individual time trial road races. Son Eun-Ju helped herself to the gold medal in the women elite individual time trial ahead of Japan뭩 Mayuko Hagiwara and Thailand뭩 Monrudee Chapookam, while her teammate Park Hoon Sang took the top honors in the junior men뭩 ITT edging out Kazahkstan뭩 Alexey Lutsenko, while Iraqi Saad Ali Yaseen Al Samiral created a flutterby taking bronze on a hot sweltering day at the AlKhan Corniche.
 
The ITT for both men and women was held in two laps of 14.2 Kms each along the Al Khan Corniche. The road races continue with the ITT for junior women and elite men starting from 10th April. The road races will conclude on 12th April after which all attention will turn to the brand-new Zayed Velodrome opposite the Sharjah International Airport, where track events will be held from 14th through 17th April.