China took gold and silver in both the men’s and women’s elite keirin events to continue their dominance of the 2026 Asian Track Cycling Championships, hosted at the Tagaytay velodrome in the Philippines.

Chinese national champion Han Xie won the men’s event after a shaky start, requiring a repechage to make it through round one – but winning his three races thereafter.

In the final, having been drawn in position one, Xie found himself with a big gap to Zhiwei Li in second as the derny exited. He seemed reluctant to go for a long one – but with danger coming from behind, he decided to try his luck.

He soon had company, with Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis slotting in behind. But the Malaysian did not have the power to get past him – and soon was passed himself, as Li attacked out of the final bend.

But Xie had enough left in the tank, holding off his compatriot at the line by just 0.016 seconds, with Chinese Taipei’s Shih Feng Kang following Li to the line to claim bronze.

In the women’s final, former flying 200 world record holder Yuan Liying went unbeaten on the day, taking gold ahead of Lijuan Wang, with Haruka Nakazawa receiving bronze.

Wang forced her way to the front with two laps of the final remaining. She opened up a modest gap ahead of Yuan in second, and Malaysia’s Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri just behind. But Yuan made her move with half a lap left, taking the lead as they entered the home straight for a clear victory.

Izzah Izzati crossed the line in second, but was relegated for ‘entering the sprinter’s lane when an opponent was already there’ – we assume for a move which forced Haruka Nakazawa on to the inner blue band as the bell rang.

The events were notable for the absence of Japan’s top-ranked riders, Kaiya Ota and world champion Mina Sato – both of whom had raced the previous day in the team sprint competition. In the final against China, the Japanese men’s team failed to finish: Nakaishi touched Ota’s back wheel and hit the ground. The women finished a disappointing fourth, losing bronze to Korea.