By REYNALD MAGALLON
TAGAYTAY CITY – Powerhouses Japan and China stamped their class and dominated the freestyle park and flatland events in the Asian BMX championships at the Tagaytay City BMX Park and the Tagaytay Combat Center here on Saturday, July 15.
The Japanese dominated the flatland competition with a perfect display of balance and creativity with their BMX bikes, securing 1-2 finishes in both men and women category.
The Chinese also impressed the judges with showstopping tricks for their own 1-2 finish in the women’s park final.
Moto Sasaki earned the nods of the judges with graceful spins and precise tricks to bag the gold in flatland male finals with a total score 90.725 points while compatriot Masato Ito finished with the silver after garnering a total of 88 points.
It was actually a repeat of their 1-2 finish in the Urban Cycling World Championship last year.
Thailand’s Pakphum Poosa Arthl bagged the bronze with an 84.2 performance while Filipinos Dwyne Lopena, Georich Cardino and Renz Viaje finished fourth to sixth, respectively.
In the distaff side, Sakura Kawaguchi scored 78.374 points to edge teammate Kirara Nakagawa for the gold medal. Nakagawa garnered 77.925 points while settling for the bronze was Thailand’s Sudarat Suvanic with 71.7.
Filipina Kristal Hernandez finished fourth with 67.45 points.
Over at the park, Chinese riders Yawen Deng and Qian Zheng bagged the gold and silver medals.
Deng wowed the judges with triple bar spin and suicide no hander tricks to net a total of 82 points.
Zheng finished with 77 points while Japanese Nene Naito bagged the bronze in 71.25 points. Filipina rider Asian Mariano ended up seventh after only scoring 40 points.
