Asian Games: Golden double on Josiah's mind

Josiah Ng is aiming to notch a golden double .

 

JOSIAH Ng is in the unique position of completing an Asian Games-Commonwealth Games keirin gold double in Guangzhou. With only a select few countries able to compete in both multi-sport events, the feat was far from possible until Malaysian cycling's rise over the last few years.

Josiah's keirin win in New Delhi now affords him the chance of writing yet another chapter for the sport, an experience the 30-year-old is relishing.

"That's on my mind a lot. It would be a dream come true.
"I have already done one-half of it and I hope to get the other half here," said Josiah after yesterday's flag-raising ceremony at the athletes village.

But it won't be easy for Josiah, who not only has riders from Japan, China and South Korea to contend with, but teammate Azizulhasni Awang as well.


Azizul crossed the finish line first in New Delhi but his subsequent disqualification saw Josiah promoted to gold medal status, which some might have viewed as fortuitous.

"It does not matter who wins. If we both are able to make it 1-2 for Malaysia, that would be great," said Josiah, who has two silver medals from the 2002 and 2006 Asian Games.

The men's keirin is scheduled for next Wednesday while Josiah will also be competing in the 200m sprint and team sprint with a possibility of more gold medals to come.

National coach John Beasley believes a gold medal will come though he did not say from where.

"I want them to perform to the best of their abilities and if they do that, the medals will come.

"We are looking at one gold medal and several more of different colours," said Beasley.

The cycling programme starts on Saturday with the women's 500m time trial awarding the first cycling gold


Read more: NST/