Kaiya Ota Asian record performance headlined the ACC Track Cycling Championships in Tagaytay after the Japanese star delivered a record-breaking ride and secured the gold medal in the elite men’s sprint.

Ota set the tone early in the competition by clocking 9.348 seconds in the qualifying round on Sunday, March 29. That time erased the previous Asian mark of 9.350 seconds, which he himself established during the Paris Olympics in August 2024, reinforcing his dominance in the discipline.

The record-breaking run immediately positioned him as the favorite heading into the knockout rounds. It also highlighted the high level of competition at the Tagaytay City Velodrome, which hosted the continental event.

Ota dominates sprint field with record ride

Despite not surpassing his qualifying time in the finals, Ota remained firmly in control throughout the sprint event. He registered 9.575 seconds in the gold medal race, comfortably ahead of China’s Li Zhiwei, who finished with 9.926 seconds.

The margin of victory underscored Ota’s superiority, as he secured the title with relative ease against a competitive field. His performance added another milestone to an already decorated career that includes multiple Asian Games gold medals.

By breaking his own record and converting it into a gold medal finish, Ota once again proved his consistency at the highest level of track cycling. His showing in Tagaytay further cements his reputation as one of Asia’s premier sprint specialists.

Japan shines in Madison events

Japan’s dominance extended beyond the sprint event, with its riders also excelling in both the men’s and women’s Madison races. Eiya Hashimoto and Kazushige Kuboki delivered a commanding performance to capture the men’s Madison gold with 104 points.

Kazakhstan’s Ilya Karabutov and Ramis Dinmukhametov settled for silver with 82 points, while Hong Kong’s Tsu Wai Chu and Kai Kwong Tso rounded out the podium with 65 points. The Japanese pair’s tactical execution and consistency proved decisive in securing the top spot.

In the women’s Madison, Mizuki Ikeda and Maho Kakita added another gold for Japan by finishing with 53 points. They outpaced China’s Xianbing Gong and Menghan Zhou, who earned silver with 40 points, while Hong Kong’s Sze Wing Lee and Wing Yee claimed bronze with 31 points.

China, however, continued to lead the overall medal standings, collecting 13 gold and six silver medals. Japan followed with four golds, six silvers, and seven bronzes as the competition approached its final day, which also marked the 33rd anniversary of the Asian Cycling Confederation.

Other events also saw strong performances across the region, with Yi Kuan Lin of Chinese Taipei taking gold in the men’s junior keirin and Hyerin Park of South Korea dominating the women’s race.

The championships in Tagaytay not only showcased elite-level performances but also reinforced Asia’s growing strength in track cycling, with emerging talents and established stars delivering standout results.