PH’s Patrick Coo cops Asian Games bronze in BMX cycling

FILE–BMX racer Patrick Coo.

HANGZHOU, China—Patrick Coo recovered from an early crash before getting back on track to claim the bronze medal in BMX cycling in the 19th Asian Games.

The 21-year-old former Asian junior champion handed the Philippines its seventh bronze medal on Sunday that went along with pole vaulter EJ Obiena’s gold medal and sanda fighter Arnel Mandal’s silver.

Coo fell off his bike in the first run and finished last, but swung back in contention over the next two races to qualify in the finals of the high-velocity race held at the Chun’an Jieshou Sports Centre BMX Course.

Born and raised in Bellflower, California, Coo checked in third in the medal contest in 39.076 seconds behind gold winner Asuma Nakai of Japan (37.542) and Thailand’s Komet Sukprasert (38.478).

Daniel Caluag, the 2014 Asian Games champion in Incheon, South Korea, also qualified in the finals but arrived sixth in 40.433.

Coo admits that Caluag has become his inspiration since watching the latter race in the 2012 London Olympics.