Pint-sized Aisyah a prized catch for Malaysian cycling

Big in spirit: Nur Aisyah Zubir says her parents Mohd Zubir Sulong and mother Rapeah Said are her No. 1 fans. — Bernama

CHUKAI: Fisherman’s daughter Nur Aisyah Zubir has shown that she is a prized catch for Malaysian cycling.

The 28-year-old Aisyah stole the show at the recent Thailand SEA Games by winning the women’s scratch event and proved that being small in size is not a hindrance to becoming a champion in cycling at the international level.

She did not give up easily even when facing foreign cyclists who were taller and had bigger build.

“Some said I could not succeed in the sport because of my small physical size, but that assumption never weakened my spirit to continue striving for victory,” said Aisyah, whose height is 160cm.

At the 2025 Sea Games in Thailand, Aisyah also won two silver medals in the women’s road cycling and criterium events.

Aisyah said that strong support from her parents, Mohd Zubir Sulong, 57, and Rapeah Said, 56, was one of the main motivations for her to keep going.

“Although I come from a fishing family and live a simple life, I am determined to change my family’s fate for the better through success in this sport that I love,” she said.

Recalling her early involvement in cycling, Aisyah said she began dabbling in the sport when she was in Form Three at SMK Bukit Mentok before undergoing training with the Chukai Cycling Club.

She was later selected to represent Terengganu when she was in Form Four and subsequently participated in several national level tournaments including Malaysia Games (Sukma) in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

“From the three Sukma championships I participated in, I managed to win 12 gold medals in various categories,” she said.

Aisyah said she joined the national team in 2019 and gained early exposure by participating in several cycling competitions both domestically and abroad, including the Paris Olympics 2024 in the highway event.

“I’m currently training full-time with the national team in Nilai, Negri Sembilan in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan next year.

“If possible after this, I want to go further ... I want to carry the Jalur Gemilang and make the country’s name known to the whole world,” she said.

Aisyah idolises the country’s cycling king and queen, Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa, who are also from Terengganu, and aspires to achieve the same level of success as them.

“If they can succeed, why can’t I?

“I always challenge myself and believe that one day I will also be able to reach a level like them,” she said. — Bernama