Junior Track Cycling World Championships: Indian Esow Alban wins sliver

Junior Track Cycling World Championships: Indian Esow Alban wins sliver
17 Aug 2018

The cycling star from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Esow Alban, has won the silver medal at the World Junior Track Cycling World Championships in Switzerland.

Alban is the first Indian to win the medal in the men's Keirin world event.

Only 0.017 seconds made the difference between Alban and the champion, Jakub Stastny from the Czech Republic.

Here's more.

Alban is the world number 1 in his category
Rank

The 17-year-old, who is a trainee at the Sports Authority of India's National Cycling Academy, is ranked number one in the world in his category.

He had a terrific run at the Asian Championships, winning three gold medals.

Alban's victories at the 2018 Cottbuser Sprint Cup 2, GP Brno Track Cycling competitions saw him climb up to the top of the rankings.

India's run at the Asian Track Cycling Championships
Prizes

India have seen major success at the Asian Track Cycling Championship this year, mainly owing to Alban's stunning form.

Alban, along with Mayur Pawar and James Singh, had won gold in the team event.

He then went on to win the top prizes in the men's junior event, in both Keirin and Sprint events, after fending off stiff competition from accomplished cyclists.

Comments from the history maker
Comments

Esow, after creating history for India, commented, "I just wanted to stay at the front and avoid getting involved in any crashes. I believed I could win but I am still happy... well, a little bit happy".

The official website of the tournament stated that it was a matter of heart-stopping milliseconds which made the difference between the winner and the runner-up.

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