Japan, China rule freestyle events in Asian BMX tilt


At a glance

  • TAGAYTAY CITY—Powerhouse teams Japan and China stamped their class and dominated the freestyle park and flatland events in the Asian BMX championships despite the foggy and rainy conditions at the Tagaytay City BMX Park and the Tagaytay City Combat Center here on Saturday, July 15.


TAGAYTAY CITY—Powerhouse teams Japan and China stamped their class and dominated the freestyle park and flatland events in the Asian BMX championships despite the foggy and rainy conditions at the Tagaytay City BMX Park and the Tagaytay City Combat Center here on Saturday, July 15.

Moto Sasaki Gold MEdalist for Flatland Male01.jpg
Japan's Moto Sasaki wins the gold medal in the men's flatland competition.


The Japanese dominated the flatland competition with a perfect display of balance and creativity with their BMX bikes, securing 1-2 finishes in both men’s and women’s category, while the Chinese also impressed the judges with their show-stopping tricks for their own 1-2 finish in the women's park final.

Moto Sasaki gained the judges’ nods with his graceful spins and precise tricks to bag the gold in flatland male finals with a total score 90.725 points, while teammate Masato Ito finished with the silver with 88 points.

It was actually a repeat of their 1-2 finish in the Urban Cycling World Championship last year.

Thailand’s Pakphum Poosa Arthl bagged the bronze with an 84.2-point performance while Filipinos Dwyne Lopena, Georich Cardino and Renz Viaje finished fourth to sixth, respectively.

In the distaff side, Sakura Kawaguchi scored 78.374 points for the gold medal to edge teammate Kirara Nakagawa, who settled for silver with 77.925 points. Thailand’s Sudarat Suvanic took home the bronze with 71.7 points.

Filipina Kristal Hernandez finished fourth with 67.45 points.

Over at the park, Chinese riders Yawen Deng and Qian Zheng shrugged off the thick fog and bagged the gold and silver medals with 82 and 77 points, respectively. Japanese Nene Naito claimed the bronze with 71.25 points while Filipina bet Asian Mariano ended up seventh after only scoring 40 points.