Jakarta—Daniel Caluag was dethroned as BMX king on Saturday, but the 31-year-old rider still contributed a bronze to the Philippines’ campaign in the 2018 Asian Games here.
Despite the third-place finish, Caluag proved to be a pain in the neck of his rivals, particularly 1-2 finishers Yoshitako Nagasako, a former Asian champion, and Indonesia’s Gusti Bagus Saputra, last year’s Southeast Asian Games winner.
He saved his best at the Jakarta International BMX track.
“I didn’t get the result I aimed for, but I am happy to contribute a medal for the Philippines,” said Caluag, a former Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year awardee.
Nagasako lived up to his billing as he bagged the gold in 33.699 seconds, with Saputra clinching the silver in 34.314.
Caluag was a fighting third in 35.842 in the event raced over a UCI-regulation track, which he described as “excellent” both for training and competition.
PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino still hailed Caluag’s accomplishment.
“Danny [Caluag] didn’t race in any UCI event ahead of the Asian Games but, still, he managed to deliver,” Tolentino said.
“He has beaten the Japanese gold medalist before, but in this race, Danny gave him a scare—to think that the Japanese is UCI ranked while Danny isn’t. So this is not bad after four years.”
The Filipino-American Caluag, who works as a nurse in the US, won the Philippines’ only gold medal in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
His younger brother, Christopher John, failed to advance to the final round after bombing out of the three motos (heats).
The Philippines’ lone female BMX rider here, Sienna Elaine Fines, on the other hand, made the finals but finished fifth.
The women’s final was won by China’s Zhang Yaru, Thailand’s Chutikan Kitwanitsathian and Indonesia’s Wiji Lestar.