Japan Set To Unleash Fearsome Foursome In BMX ACC 2022

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Favourites Japan are set to field at least four big names for the Asian BMX Cycling Championships 2022 (BMX ACC 2022) at the National BMX Arena in Bandar Baru Nilai, Negeri Sembilan this Saturday (Aug 20). Japan BMX coach Masa Sampei said the four riders set to compete in the world-class meet are Ryo Shimada, Kanami Tanno, Jui Yabuta and Hyoga Kiuchi. “As you all know Ryo Shimada finished 37th at the 2022 BMX World Championships in Nantes (France) in July. He is very determined to emerge as an Asian champion in the elite and Under-23 categories and, thus, earn qualifying points for the 2024 Paris Olympics. “It’s the same with Tanno and Yabuta. Tanno finished fourth in the women’s Under-23 category. She missed out on the podium by just a few seconds behind Canadian bronze medallist Molly Simpson,” he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) Thursday. Sampei, who pointed out that Yabuta finished seventh in the women’s Under-23 category, said he would only field the best riders as he took this weekend’s prestigious championships seriously. He, however, admitted to being wary of the threat posed by others, especially South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia seeing as how the three countries have been training diligently at the National BMX Arena. Sampei said his team preferred to take a more cautious approach to the hot weather, with the temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius, by only training in the morning. “You can see that it is very hot. Yes, Tokyo is also hot now. But it is hotter here than in Tokyo. So, we will only train in the morning tomorrow,” he said. Other than Japan, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia will also be competing in the BMX ACC 2022, which will be the first continental event offering qualifying points for Paris 2024. Thailand will also be featuring several talented riders, especially Vichitpong Mongkonsiri who finished third in the Men’s Junior qualifying heats at the 2022 BMX World Championships in Nantes. -- BERNAMA