PH cyclists Aquino, Salamat fall short

FILE PHOTO – Cyclist Marella Vania Salamat holds up the flag after winning a gold medal. RAFFY LERMA

KUALA LUMPUR — Marella Vania Salamat tried to close in with tough, European-trained Thai rider but it backfired badly as she got pinned down in the mad dash to the finish out of the podium Monday in cycling criterium race.

The last Southeast Asian Games champion in individual time trial was part of the 11-woman lead pack that charged to the finishing at Dataran Putrajaya all at the same time, one hour, two minutes and nine seconds.

But it was Vietnam’s Thi Tat Nguyen, who took the gold, Ju Pha Som of Malaysia silver and Julatip Maneephan — the rider on Salamat’s crosshairs — bronze. Salamat was fourth.

“The Thai rider is a very good sprinter,” Salamat said. “Unfortunately, my tactic of closely guarding her didn’t work as other riders saw it as an opportunity to attack.”

She will still see action in the individual mass start on Wednesday. There is no ITT this SEA Games.

Filipino rider Jerry Aquino also bombed out in the men’s action.

Aquino fell short to finish fourth in the men’s side, behind Mohd Harrif Saleh of Malaysia (59:34.77), Tanawut Sanikwhati of Thailand (59:34.79) and Mohd Zamri Saleh of Malaysia (59:34.88).