Peerapol Chawchiangkwang won the silver medal on the last day of the 44th Asian Road Cycling Championships on Sunday as Thailand ended the 10-day competition as overall champions.
National cyclist Peerapol finished in second place in the 171.90km men's individual road race elite event from Phitsanulok to Phichit, crossing the line in 3:47.09 hours. Chinese rider Lyu Xiangjing won the race in 3:46.35 while Mongolian Jambaljamts Saibayar took bronze in 3:47.11.
Thailand were overall winners with 13 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals. Kazakhstan finished second with seven gold and seven silver medals while Uzbekistan were third with three gold and one bronze medals.
"It is a big success for the Thai cycling team as we have finished as overall champions with 13 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals," said Gen Decha Hemkrasri, president of the Thai Cycling Association (TCA).
"It was an excellent performance by the team, especially Jutatip Maneephan, who won gold in the women's road race elite event and Peerapol, who took silver in the men's road race elite event today. It is the first time Thai cyclists have won medals in both events of the Asian Championships.
"It's a much better show than the 2023 edition in Rayong, when we finished second overall with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. It shows how much the Thai cyclists have improved."
Peerapol said, "I knew the Chinese cyclist would be tough to beat and he was the title favourite. But I did my best and it's a pity that I missed out on a gold medal."