Beasley eyeing a measly one-gold haul for Malaysia

MALAYSIA’S Australian track cycling coach John Beasley said yesterday that his team were capable of winning titles at the Asian Games, but admitted China were likely to dominate.

The Malaysians are optimistic about ending a 40-year gold medal drought when the sporting showpiece opens on Friday, after winning their first-ever Commonwealth Games track medals in New Delhi last month.
“We did a good job at the Commonwealth Ga­­mes and I hope we can get at least one gold at the Asian Games,” Beasley, the man responsible for the revolution in Malay­sian track cycling, said at the Guangzhou Velodrome.

“There will only be one Chinese rider in the 500m time trial so I think that is the best chance we have.
“But we’re far behind the Chinese team.”

The sprint, keirin and team sprint will be Malaysia’s main chance of their first Asiad gold since Ng Joo Ngan and Daud Ibrahim produced a double at the Bangkok Games in 1970.

South Korea and Japan too will be a threat when the track events start on Saturday. — AFP