H S Manjunath | Publication date 13 February 2018 | 19:40 ICT
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Heng Sivlang (right) and her sister Sivguek pose with their medals at Phnom Penh airport on Monday night. Chhorn Norn
Sibling rivalry was seen at its glorious best as Cambodia’s fastest female cyclists Heng Sivlang and her older sister Heng Sivguek took gold and silver medals respectively at the Asian Cycling Championships in Myanmar, which involved 24 countries and concluded on Monday.
Competing in the 22km Individual Time Trial in the women’s master event for the over-35 category, the Kingdom’s SEA Games squad members finished one-two, with the 37-year-old mother of four Sivlang taking the top honours ahead of Sivguek.
Sivlang, whose burning passion is to encourage more women to get into cycling, sped away at 35.40 km/h to Sivguek’s 32.64.
Though she could ride a bike since she was 10 years old, Sivlang’s first cycling race came in her early thirties, at Phnom Basset in 2011 – and she ended up winning it.
Since then she has pedalled her way to bigger challenges.
The cyclists’ accomplishment were hailed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia.
The director of sports at the Ministry, Ouk Sothecheat, headed the official reception for the medal winners and the cycling team on their arrival at Phnom Penh airport late on Monday night.
Cambodian team manager and coach Pierre-Yves Catry told The Post yesterday that the performances of the two cyclists would help promote the sport among women.
“It was a bit unexpected but they did very well in a competition like the Asian Championships, which offer a chance to compete in various age categories,” Catry said.
“To have started competitive cycling so late in their careers and then to have reached this level should come as great inspiration for the younger generation.”
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