DOHA, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Hagiwara Mayuko of Japan won the women's individual cycling road race at the 15th Asian Games here on Monday.

    Hagiwara Mayuko clocked three hours six minutes and ten seconds to take the gold.

    "I did really well in today's race. I led the group from the very beginning, my coach gave me advice to keep the lead and my strategy had been proved right," said Hagiwara.

    Zhao Na of China won the silver, and the bronze went to Han Song Hee of South Korea.

    After taking the first cycling medal for China in Doha, Zhao set her sights on the 2008 Olympic Games.

    "I felt really happy to win the silver today, and this is the first time I have participated in Asian Games. I think I could do better in Beijing," said Zhao.

    Tipped as the favorite before the race, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medalist Zulfiya Zabirova of Kazakhstan only finished seventh.

    "She did well in the beginning, but she ran out of energy by the end, do not forget, she was not young anymore," explained Hagiwara.