Shambih overcomes odds to shine

Doha: Training for a velodrome race without a velodrome is tricky. But the UAE's Badr Ali Shambih proved yesterday that it could be done.

The cyclist recorded a new personal best of 1.09.869 for the men's one kilometre time trial, the first time he had gone under 1.10 in that event.

Shambih had only three opportunities to train on a velodrome prior to his Asian Games outing and his coach, German Andreas Petermann, said he was satisfied with the result.

"It's difficult for us," he said. "In the UAE we have no track, so we have to train on the road. They are building a track in Sharjah, but we have no idea when it will be completed."

Shambih, who was third to go, demolished the times of Iraq's Mohammad Farkad and Ahmad Sayed Alawi from Bahrain, who both struggled with the standing start. In contrast Shambih looked good for the first three laps of the track, but seemed to tire on fourth. Soon, more experienced athletes from the Far East were clocking fast times that saw Shambih slip from medal contention.

The winner, Yong Feng from China, finished in 1.04.228, a new Asian Games record.

Japan's Yusho Oikawa claimed silver with 1.04.775 while Jin Dong Kang of Korea's 1.04.786 was good enough for the bronze medal.

"I am feeling very happy," said Shambih after recovering from his ride. "It is good to get a new personal best time. I hope that more people will come to participate in cycling in the UAE."

Petermann, who was placed fifth two years in a row at the World Championships and was the German triathlon coach for five years, said that it is essential for UAE cyclists to train in a covered-over track.

"When I joined the UAE cycling team in August, I said that I needed there to be a track. Originally it was planned as an open track, but I told them that in a country that is so hot, athletes need to be able to train all year round."

Shambih and the rest of the UAE cycling team have a busy schedule ahead of them. When they return home they will begin training for the Asian Championships in March and a road race in Malaysia.

"Before we came here I just asked that they try and get better times than they have done before. They have done that so I am very happy," said Petermann.