Hong Kong cyclist Chan qualifies for Beijing Olympics

SUZHOU - Hong Kong cyclist Chan Chun Hing qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games after winning the bronze medal of the men's cross country at the 13th Asian Mountain Bike Championships here on Friday.

Leading in the first lap, Chan clocked one hour 43 minutes and 15.527 seconds to book Hong Kong, China's first mountain bike berth for the Beijing Olympics.

"I am really excited. This is the first time for Hong Kong mountain bike cyclist to qualify for the Olympics," said coach Shen Jinkang, who had led Hong Kong cyclist Wong Kong Po to the 2004 Athens Olympics.

"He used to be a road cyclist, so his advantage is stamina," added Shen.

China's Ji Jianhua won the gold in one hour 40 minutes and 33.115 seconds, while the silver medal went to his teammate Zhang Haitao in 1:41:47.362.

According to UCI rules, the cyclists who got the first two places of the Asian Championships would qualify for the Beijing Olympics, but the two cyclists must come from different countries or regions.

So Ji also won a berth for the Chinese team, while Chan benefited from the regulation.

"Before the Championships, he had been trained in Yunnan province in mainland China for two months. His hard work got paid off," added Shen.