Manorama, Deborah bag silver

New Delhi (PTI): Manorama Devi and Deborah clinched a silver medal each to register India's best-ever performance in a cycling competition, at the Hero Asian Cycling Championships here. Manorama, who won silver in the Keirin's race, lifted the Indian spirits after Deborah's fighting loss to Korea rider earlier in the day. Both Manorama and Deborah were in contention in the eight-lap long Keirin race, but it was Manorama who mesmerised the Indian fans at the IG stadium's velodrome with her a resolute run in the last 50 metres. The 16-year-old cyclist rallied from the fifth spot to achieve her second podium finish in the event. Manorama fell short by just 0.131 seconds to Yu Shiou Cheng of Chinese Taipei, who won the gold, while the bronze went to Korea's Yeonhee Jang. Deborah, however, finished last in the six-rider race as she was blocked by the Koreans. Meanwhile, in the final of the junior women sprint race, India's hope of bagging its first-ever gold at the Asian Cycling Championships was dashed after Deborah lost her gold-medal play-off race to Korea's Yeonhee Jang. In the first heat, Deborah took the initiative and stayed ahead keeping a close eye on her Korean opponent, who was looking for an opening in the three lap race. With over a lap to go, Yeonhee zoomed past Deborah to touch down the base line just 0.108 secs in advance. Deborah, however, pulled one back beating her rival by 0.022 secs in an agonising close battle to take the contest into the final round.