Ride on: Lim Chun Kiat (centre) posing with Mohd Luqman Daniel (left) and Mohd Faiz Fakhri Omar on the podium.
PETALING JAYA: Culinary arts student Lim Chun Kiat whipped up a storm for Sabah by romping to a successful defence of the men’s individual pursuit title at the National Championships.
The 22-year-old track cyclist, despite still recovering from an ear infection, managed to stop the clock at 4:31.530 at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday.
He managed to overcome Sarawak’s Mohd Luqman Daniel, who finished second with 4:40.391 while Mohd Faiz Fakhri Omar of Perak clocked 4:40.391 to finish third.
Luqman’s silver is the first cycling podium in the elite ranks for Sarawak, who is coached by former international Josiah Ng.
Chun Kiat, who made history as the first national champion for Sabah in the elite ranks in last year’s meet was just glad to have defended the title.
“I did well in the race. My condition for the race was not too good as I had a headache from yesterday,” he said.
“But I just followed the race strategy.
“I just kept working hard on the bike as I did expect to win this race.”
Chun Kiat is pumped up ahead of the Asian Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi from June 18-22.
“It’s a good morale booster for me ahead of my next competition. I feel good as my timing is similar to the current best in Asia.
“I aim to get on the podium there,” said the Penampang local, who has been based with the Sabah team under coach Louis Pang in Kuala Lumpur for the last four years.
Another Sabahan Waldron Chee also did well to snatch a silver in the scratch event behind 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games gold medallist Irwandie Lakasek, who is also a pro rider with Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG).
It was no mean feat as Waldron was up against professional riders from Sapura and TSG.
Men elite
Team sprint: 1. Johor 58:928, 2. Perak 58:743, 3. Kuala Lumpur 50:495.
Individual pursuit: 1. Lim Chun Kiat (Sab) 4:31.530, 2. Mohd Luqman Daniel (Swk) 4:40.391, 3. Mohd Faiz Fakhri Omar (Prk) 4:40.548.
Scratch: 1. Irwandie Lakasek (Ter) , 2. Waldron Chee (Sab), 3. Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan (Ter).
Men junior
Sprint: 1. Umar Hasbullah (Ked), 2. Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena (Joh) , 3. Mohd Nafal Wafiq (Joh).
Individual pursuit: 1.
Women elite
Team sprint: 1. Kedah 50.462, 2. Selangor 50:224, 3. Terengganu 46.859.
Scratch: 1. Siti Nur Adibah Akma (Joh) Pan Phi Kun (Ked), 3. Noor Mastura Norman (Joh).
Women junior
Sprint: 1. Yong Ann Tung (Sel), 2. Azwa Nabila Abdullah (Prk), 3. Intan Suraya (Joh).
Individual pursuit: 1. Nyo Ci Hui (Prk) 2:32.027, 2. Khairunnisa Aleeya (Joh) 2:38.318, 3. Nur Fitrah Shaari (Ked) 2:43.673.
