National cyclist hurt in road accident

She was lucky to have escaped with facial injuries and a few broken teeth, although they will serve as a chilling reminder to Singapore cyclist Dinah Chan.

During cycling training on Monday, the 25-yearold was involved in an accident with a car. It happened when she had just entered Fort Road from East Coast Service Road. The car came from the opposite direction.

Chan struggled to speak from her hospital bed on Monday and could reply only through text messages. "I was flung more than 10 metres onto a grass patch and was unconscious for a while," said Chan, who was riding alone when the accident happened. "Thank god there were no broken bones, and it wasn't a hit-and-run. The lady (who hit me) called the ambulance for me."

The force of the impact was so strong that Chan's helmet was cracked.

She was later treated for wounds on her lips and chin, and also a few broken teeth.

She will make a police report on Tuesday, once she is discharged from hospital.

Chan, who trains about 30 hours a week, will be part of the Singapore contingent that will head to Myanmar for the South-east Asia (SEA) Games in December.

She will be taking part in the 20km individual time trial and 100km individual road race. She won bronze in the individual time trial events at the 2009 and 2011 SEA Games respectively.

Far from being shaken, Chan, who also took part in the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010, is determined to come back stronger. She believes the accident will put her off serious training only for about a week.

Back to training

"I should be back on the indoor trainer for light riding by Wednesday," she said. "This only fuels my determination to train harder for the SEA Games, once I recover."

In February, the cyclist, who originally trained as a triathlete, was part of the third OCBC Cycle Singapore Safe Cycling campaign. She passed on cycling safety tips to 900 children aged between nine and 12.

Last night, she reiterated the need to raise the level of respect between cyclists and motorists on the roads.

"Cyclists and motorists have to be vigilant and aware of what's happening," said Chan, who was wearing white when she was hit by the car.

"It's really important for cyclists to wear a helmet and bright-coloured clothes and drivers have to share the road."

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