Asian Games track records tumble

South Korea and China have stamped their mark on the track component of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, by setting four games records, with three days of competition remaining.

South Korea's Jang Sun Jae set a blistering pace in the men's 4km individual pursuit qualifying to break the Asian Games record with a time of 4.30.355, a whopping five seconds quicker than the previous record set by Vadim Kvavtchenko of Kazakhstan. "I am very happy and satisfied with a Korean and Asian Games record, but it is not finished. Tomorrow is the actual start for me," Jang told Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Sun Jae's teammate, Lee Min Hye, was a dominate force in the women's 3km indifidual pursuit, not only taking the victory but breaking her own games record, set during qualifying, in the process. Min Hye shaved a further seven hundredths off her record, setting a new benchmark of 3.44.146.

China's Guo Shuang claimed victory in the women's 500m time trial with a time of 35.175 seconds, toppling the former record of 35.305 set by fellow Chinese rider Jiang Yonghua in the 2002 Busan Asiad Games. "I did not think much about the record, because I knew what I needed to do at that moment was to concentrate on the track," said Guo.

Guo's teammate Feng Yong won the men's 1km time trial with a time of 1.04.607, eight-tenths quicker than the previous best set by Lin Chih Hsan of Chinese Taipei in the last games. "Before the race, I did think I could win because both the Japanese and Korean cyclists are very strong," said Feng. "But I controlled the speed well, and made a good sprint in the last 500m."

The 15th Asian Games continue today with the men's 4km team pursuit final.