Siti’s sweet swansong

Perfect ride: Johor’s Nur Aiman Rosli and Siti Nur Adibah Akma Mohd Fuad showing off their gold medals in the individual road time trial events.

KUALA LUMPUR: Dreams never die when you have what it takes to make it come true.

Siti Nur Adibah Akma Mohd Fuad came good in her final Sukma (Malaysia Games) appearance to bag the gold in the women’s individual road time trial event for Johor.

And to make her victory even sweeter, it was also the first gold medal handed out in the 20th edition of Sukma, delayed for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 23-year-old, who was part of the road race team that won silver at the Hanoi SEA Games in May, clocked the fastest time of 44:25.801 at the end of the 30km distance long race held in Sendayan, Negri Sembilan.

National back-up cyclist Nyo Ci Hui, representing Perak, got the silver after clocking 45:52.607 while Terengganu’s Siti Nur Alia Mansor settled for bronze with 46:25.155.

Siti Nur Adibah, who started out in mountain bike, described it as her most cherished Sukma appearance.

“I’ve taken part in four Sukma outings since 2012 but the best was winning a silver in Kuching in 2016.

“I was only told that the women’s race will be flagged off first and I would be the first gold medal winner if I won.

“That makes me more determined to do everything right in my ride. I was confident of winning as I’ve won the individual road time trial event three years in a row at the national championships.

“But then you never know what’s going to happen.

“I thought of giving up at one point when the Sukma was postponed two years ago but I continued.

“I am surrounded by positive people who kept motivating and taking care of me.

“Today was the day I have been waiting for and I am glad I got it right finally,” said Siti Nur Adibah, who is from Tangkak.

Siti Nur Adibah, who did not take part in the last Sukma in Ipoh in 2018, will also compete in the road race and criterium after this.

It was Johor’s day on the tarmac in Sendayan as Nur Aiman Rosli topped the men’s individual road time trial competition.

Nur Aiman, also 23, clocked 53.08.865 at the end of the 39.9km distance ride.

Terengganu’s Kee Zhe Yie got the silver with 53:44.086 ahead of Perak’s Mohd Yusri Shaari (54:06.108).

Aiman was also national champion for three times in a row in the event and pleased to live up to expectations.

“My preparations were not that good because I just recovered from flu.

“After this, I hope to help Johor win the team road race event tomorrow,” said Aiman, the bronze medallist for Malaysia at the Vietnam SEA Games.