Team pursuit quartet strike 200-medal mark in golden style

Million-dollar smile: The men’s team pursuit quartet posing for a photo on the podium.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

BANGKOK: Track cycling is back in the SEA Games programme for the first time since Kuala Lumpur in 2017, and so far it has been all Malaysia.

The icing on the cake came when the nation’s 200-medal target at the Games was also struck in gold at the Huamak Velodrome.

The men’s team pursuit quartet of Abdul Azim Aliyas, Mohd Hafiq Jafri, Yusri Shaari and Lau New Joe powered past host nation Thailand to seal a rare sweep of all three gold medals yesterday.

Mohd Ridwan Sahrom had won the men’s keirin final earlier before Nur Aisyah Zubir added a second in the women’s scratch race.

The quartet then clocked 4:18.606s in qualifying, comfortably faster than Thailand’s 4:25.349. Indonesia were seen as the favourites but were disqualified earlier in the day, thus ruling them out of medal contention.

Thailand’s quartet of Nattakrit Kaeonoi, Thak Kaeonoi, Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn and Putipong Chaloemsrimueang settled for silver.

John Beasley, the technical consultant for Malaysian cycling credited former cyclists, now coaches, for their hard work in training the new generation of champions.

“I saw Ridwan take a big step forward today, and I’m very happy with his performance. Our former national cyclist Amir Mustafa Rusli has done a good job with the team pursuit boys.

“Aisyah also got her first gold medal. Assistant coaches Adiq (Husainie Othman) and Fairoz (Izni Abdul Ghani) all played a part in this performance.

“I honestly could not be happier and so proud. I want to make a special mention about Mohd Izham Mohd and Chee Lee Ming, who worked behind the scenes quietly.

“Nobody would know them but they are a massive part of the success,” he said.

Men

Keirin: 1. Mohd Ridwan Sahrom (Mas), 2. Jai Angsuthasawit (Tha), 3. Norasetthada Bunna (Tha), 4.

Mohd Fadhil Zonis (Mas).

Team pursuit: 1. Malaysia (Abdul Azim Aliyas, Lau New Joe, Yusri Shaari, Mohd Hafiq Jafri) 4:18.06 bt Thailand 4:25.349.

Women

Scratch: 1. Nur Aisyah Zubir (Mas), 2. Elizabeth Tan (Sin), 3. Ayustina Delia Priatna (Ina).