Kedah’s Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri in action for the women’s time trial 500m final match during the SUKMA 2022 at Velodrom Nasional Malaysia, Nilai. - FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KEDAH may be a state without a velodrome and are hardly associated with cycling.
But Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri continues to make sure the northern states get the limelight they deserve in the ongoing Malaysia Games (Sukma) after riding to her second gold in the women’s 500m time trial at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday.
Penang’s Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan came in second with 36.618s and Nurqadrina Emylia Norzali of Selangor clocked 36.928s for the bronze medal.
In June, Izzah made her name as the first Malaysian woman rider to win a gold medal in the 500m time trial at the Asian Championships in New Delhi with a time of 35.499s.
The 19-year-old Izzah however was not in a mood to celebrate as her time of 35.545s was still slower than her personal best of 34.668s achieved at the national championship in December last year.
Izzah, who won the women’s sprint gold and also did her part to help the women’s team pursuit take bronze on Monday, said she felt the strain of competing in back-to-back races but vowed to bounce back.
“I’m not satisfied with my performance. I was hoping to improve on my personal best here and this is my pet event but I couldn’t achieve it,” said Izzah, who participated in the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
“Maybe I’m a bit tired from competing in back-to-back events yesterday (Monday),” said Nurul, who will compete in the team sprint today and keirin tomorrow.
“I hope to do better and get the gold medals.”
In the men’s team sprint, Perak’s Ahmad Safwan Ahmad Nazeri, Mohd Zakwan Hamidon and Nadzrul Hafidzy Mohd Hafidz pulled off an upset by clocking 58.412s for the gold medal.
Johor’s Amar Danial Masri, Estiqfaiq Eiszaham and Mohd Ridwan Sahrom took the silver with 58.692s.
Negri Sembilan’s Abdul Azim Aliyas dashed Lim Chun Kiat’s hopes of winning Sabah’s first track cycling gold when he clocked 4:28.808 to come out tops in the contest for the men’s 4km individual pursuit event.
Chun Kiat, the national champion, had to be contented with the silver in 4:31.828.
Johor’s Siti Nur Adibah Akma Mohd Fuad took her gold medal tally to five after winning the women’s omnium gold with 159 points.
Terengganu’s Nor Aisyah Munirah Chek Ramli came second with 155 while Nyo Ci Hui of Perak picked up the bronze with 144.
