City-based rider Yuvrajsinh Kondedeshmukh finished runner-up in the Asian Motocross Championship in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. He is the first Indian to achieve podium in the junior boys’ category in the ongoing series.
The 12-year-old rode KTM 85CC bike in the U-14 age group. In overall standings, Yuvrajsinh is placed third with eighty points. David Vitrebo of Philippines is current leader, while Jiraj Wahnalak of Thailand is on second place. The first round was held in Malaysia, where Yuvrajsinh got fourth place in first round and sixth in the second. In the second round he made rapid strides and clinched podium.
In the second moto of fourth round, Yuvrajsinh was on third place. He had taken comfortable lead on the fourth placed rider. He cleared downhill and uphill sections with big jumps. He dared to take the chance, but unfortunately the front tyre was punctured and he fell off the bike.
“At that point Yuvrajsinh feared that his race was over. With tears rolling down his eyes, he composed himself, lifted the bike and again started it. He completed the remaining three laps with punctured tyres. Once official results were out, Yuvrajsinh had bagged the podium. He took the tri-color on the back and rode a lap with almost sixty thousand spectators cheering him. It was a very proud moment for us,” said Yuvrajsinh’s father Sandeep Kondedeshmukh.
Explaining the challenges, Yuvrajsinh said, “The fourth race was high speed track with downhill and uphill sections. The corners were sharp, while jumps were broad and high compared to what we have in India. Since the terrain was natural, corners and jumps were testing the skill and endurance of riders. Half of the corners and jumps were either on uphill or downhill sections, which further increased the degree of difficulty.”
{{/usCountry}}Explaining the challenges, Yuvrajsinh said, “The fourth race was high speed track with downhill and uphill sections. The corners were sharp, while jumps were broad and high compared to what we have in India. Since the terrain was natural, corners and jumps were testing the skill and endurance of riders. Half of the corners and jumps were either on uphill or downhill sections, which further increased the degree of difficulty.”
{{/usCountry}}Yuvrajsinh is sponsored by Ajmera I-land Sports Academy, Mumbai. He is trained by former national champion Rustum Patel. Yuvrajsinh is studying in eighth standard in Symbiosis International School, Viman Nagar.