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Thursday April 9, 2009

Kimbeley to try her hand at track cycling

By LIM TEIK HUAT

KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time SEA Games triathlon gold medallist Kimbeley Yap is always game for a challenge and she will be taking part in the national track cycling championships at the velodrome in Cheras here this weekend.

The 22-year-old will compete for her home state, Sarawak, in the 3km individual pursuit.

Korat SEA Games silver medallist and national record holder Uracca Leow should start as the favourite to win the event in the Open category (19 and above).

Although it would be difficult for Kimbeley to dislodge Uracca, she could still stake a claim for a place in the national team for the Asian Championships in Surabaya in July.

Something different: Kimbeley will be taking part in the national track cycling championships.

“I am just exploring my options. The national women’s road cyclists like Noor Azian Alias and Uracca also ride in the endurance track events,” said Kimbeley.

“I have been training on the road with them and I thought, why not, give it a go as the road national championships will only take place later.

“I have not trained much for the track event and I do not have high expectations. But I hope it suits me. Technically, it is a lot different as there are no brakes on a track bike.”

Kimbeley is currently in the national senior women’s road cycling squad under coach Ng Joo Ngan and she also trains twice or thrice a week on the track.

Kimbeley had won medals in swimming at the SEA Games before taking up triathlon to emerge as the champion at the 2005 and 2007 Games in the Philippines and Thailand respectively. But triathlon is not in the Games programme in Laos in December and she decided to commit herself to cycling this year.

The national track championships will also be the chance for younger cyclists to impress national coach John Beasley, who will be looking to fill places in the squad to compete in the junior and senior ranks of the Asian meet.

Beasley has opted not to return home after the recent World Track Championships in Poland to spend time here to give coaching clinics and also to be on the lookout for new talent at the national meet.

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