Pei Ni Chou (Chinese Taipei) finished fifth in the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Risa Suseanty (Indonesia) crosses the finish line in the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) is all smiles after winning the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) is number one.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The junior women's podium (l-r): Bui Thi Quyen (Vietnam), 2nd; Vipavee Deekaballes (Thailand), 1st; Kuan Hui Wu (Chinese Taipei), 3rd.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The top three finishers in the elite women's downhill (l-r): Risa Suseanty (Indonesia), 2nd; Mio Suemasa (Japan), 1st; Aussanee Pradupyard (Thailand), 3rd.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) is the elite women's downhill champion.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) celebrates her victory in the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The elite women's downhill top three with event VIPs.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The elite women's podium (l-r): Risa Suseanty (Indonesia), 2nd; Mio Suemasa (Japan), 1st; Aussanee Pradupyard (Thailand), 3rd.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Elite women's dowhill champion Mio Suemasa (Japan).(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) on her way to winning the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Risa Suseanty (Indonesia) catches some air en route to a second place finish in the elite women's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Sina Sahihi (Islamic Republic of Iran) en route to an eighth place finish in the junior men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Leung Chun Yin (Hong Kong, China) finished 10th in the junior men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Action in the elite men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
An elite men's downhill competitor gets some encouragement.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Ghazali Hakiki Ali Samson (Malaysia) finished 13th in the elite men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
One of the elite men's downhill competitors airs it out.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
A rider in the elite men's downhill takes flight.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
An elite men's downhill competitor about to touch down after catching some air.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Muhammad Aim Mohd Fauzi (Malaysia), third place finisher in the junior men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The junior men's top three pose with event VIPs.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The junior men's podium: Hildan Atosma Katana (Indonesia), 2nd; Kazuki Shimizu (Japan), 1st; Muhammad Aim Mohd Fauzi (Malaysia), 3rd.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The elite men's downhill podium (l-r): Naoki Idegawa (Japan), 2nd; Popo Ario Sejati (Indonesia), 1st; Tanaphon Jarupeng (Thailand), 3rd.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
The elite men's downhill podium finishers with event VIPs.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Elite men's downhill champion Popo Ario Sejati (Indonesia) gets splashed by his teammates.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Ha The Long (Vietnam) crashed during the junior men's downhill.(Image credit: Asian Mountain Bike Championships)
Mio Suemasa (Japan) and Popo Ario Sejati (Indonesia) won the elite downhill championships at the Asian Continental Championships on Saturday in Malaysia.
Suemasa, a regular on the downhill and four cross World Cup circuit, defeated Risa Suseanty (Indonesia) by over 15 seconds and Aussanee Pradupyard (Thailand) by 27 seconds.
"The downhill track here is totally different from Japan, I hope that the Malaysian Cycling Federation can organize more mountain bike events here," said Suemasa, who also complimented organizers on the course.
Ario Sejati won the elite men's race ahead of Naoki Idegawa (Japan) and Tanaphon Jarupeng (Thailand) by four and 11 seconds respectively.
"I've only been competing for two years," said a happy Ario Sejati. "The other riders were also very competitive."
Japan also took top honors in the junior men's race. Kazuki Shimizu won by just over one second. Hildan Atosma Katana (Indonesia) was second and Muhammad Aim Mohd Fauzi (Malaysia) was third.
"The Asian (junior) competitors are as 'fierce' as in Europe," said Shimiz, who also added that he liked the track. Both Atosma Katana and Mohd Fauzi were among those using the race as training for the upcoming SEA Games in Laos.
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"I really hope to win gold in the upcoming SEA Games in Laos," said Atosma Katana.
"I'm very dissapointed that I didn't win the gold medal. If I am chosen to compete in SEA Games - Laos, I will do my best to make up for my loss here today," said Mohd Fauzi.
Thailand's Vipavee Deekaballes won the junior women's race ahead of Bui Thi Quyen (Vietnam) and Kuan Hui Wu (Chinese Taipei). Deekaballes' margin of victory was over one minute.
Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
