Jutatip stuns the field with unlikely gold
Jutatip Maneephan emerged an unlikely heroine at the Songdo Road Cycling Course yesterday when she crossed the line first to produce a surprise gold medal for Thailand in the women's road race.
The 28-year-old cyclist won the country’s fifth gold medal in the Games after timing 3:39.33 hours. She was followed by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi That and Taiwan’s Hsiao Mei Yu.
“If I had not accelerated before the finish line, I wouldn’t have made it. I was checking the progress of my competitors nearby and was thinking second or third would do. It turned out I finished first and I
feel proud to win this gold medal,” said Jutatip who became the first Thai to win the women’s road race in 16 years after Banna Kamfu won in the 13th Asian Games in Thailand in 1998. Compatriot Janpeng Nonthasin meanwhile settled for 21st place.
Jutatip said she would be very busy when she returns to her home in Chiang Mai as she has some religious duties to perform.
“Before I went to the Games, I prayed with Luang Por Thunjai at Wat Doi Kam and pledged that if I won a gold I would present them with 9,999 jasmine flowers. I also asked for good luck from the Kruba Srivichai statue and said I would run up to Doi Suthep three times if my wish was granted. I have to run around the Thao Suranari ground 50 times,” she said.
