Sawda breaks Asian junior record in first attempt for gold

Strong push: National track cyclist Sawda Hasbullah riding to victory in the girls’ junior category at the Asian Championships. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

NILAI: Track cyclist Sawda Hasbullah had never raced in a time trial event but she pulled off the biggest surprise by riding into the history book as the first Malaysian to win a gold medal in the girls’ junior category at the Asian Championships.

And she did it in style, breaking the Asian junior record at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday to become the first rider in 62 years to clinch the first gold for Malaysia in the Asian meet.