Caluag loses Asiad crown, drops to third

JAKARTA — From his gold-medal ride in Incheon four years ago, Daniel Patrick Caluag returned to the Asian Games already a father of two kids at 31 years old, but still summoned power in his legs to win the bronze in men’s BMX at the Pulo Mas International BMX Center here on Saturday.

The oldest BMX rider in the field, Caluag outpedalled younger rivals except versatile riders Yoshitaku Nagasako of Japan and Gusti Bagus Saputra Indonesia who finished first and second, respectively.

Christopher John Caluag, Daniel’s younger brother who narrowly missed a podium finish in the 2014 Incheon meet, failed to make it past the qualifying run here.

The older Caluag clocked 35.842 as against the winner’s 33.669 and the 34.314 time of the silver medallist.

Meanwhile, Filipina newcomer Sienna Elaine Fines avoided a two-rider spill but checked in only at fifth in the distaff side at 43.663.

Zhang Yaru of China blazed to the finish at 39.643 for the gold, with Chutikan of Kitwanitsathian of Thailand (40.379) beating Indon Wiji Lestari (4.788) for the silver.

“It’s not the result that I wanted and what I came here for. The vision was the gold. But the Japanese came in strong,” said Caluag of his bronze-medal feat.

“But I’m happy with the finish. I would have liked a better color, but any medal for the Philippines is definitely good result especially on the world stage,” added Caluag, now a working athlete who is attending two hospitals in California on a three-day-a-week schedule as a nurse.

Nagasako is a full-time rider at his prime, shining against the rest of the field in a beautifully designed BMX course here.

“He’s my biggest competitor. He’s playing the rounds strategically, knowing it’s a hot race and hoping the riders would spend their energy. He played the same game I played,” said Caluag.

A two-time Asian champ that attended training in Switzerland and in California, Nagasako, 24, proved a good technical and tactical rider, showing up even the silver medallist who was enjoying a home-course edge.

Both Nagasako and Saputra compete in BMX and track. The Japanese is being primed to contend for the BMX medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

And no doubt, he’s got tremendous power as he showed in topping the seeding run at 35.222. The silver medallist came in third at 0.590 behind while Caluag fifth 1.000 behind.

Then Nagasako and Caluag finished first and second in Heat 1 while Saputra checked in second behind Japanese Jukia Yoshimura in Heat 2 where the other Caluag placed fourth.

Curiously, as the Asian championships BMX titlist in 2013, Caluag also lost his crown then to Nagasako in 2014 in Naypyidaw.