Quartet now eyeing Asian record
EIMAN Firdaus Mohd Zamri, Irwandie Lakasek, Mohamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff and Muhamad Afiq Huznie Othman are now targeting the Asian record after winning the team pursuit gold at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games yesterday.
The quartet, who defeated Thailand in the decider, broke both the national and Sea Games records after clocking four minutes and 9.999 seconds en route to winning the event at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
“Our timing today (yesterday) is enough to put us in the medals at the Asian level now. Give us some time, we will try and break the Asian record next,” said Afiq Huznie.
“The current Asian record is four minutes flat by China. Hopefully we can do it early next year.”
Fatehah Mustapa was in equally fine form as she broke her own national record en route to winning the women’s 500m time trial in a time of 34.542 seconds. Fatehah’s former record of 34.667s had been set at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014.
Fatehah later won the keirin gold with teammate Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan taking the silver.
World keirin champion Azizulhasni Awang romped to the keirin gold in his rainbow jersey and as promised, treated the crowd to his trademark wheelie celebration.
Mohd Fadhil Mohd Zonis had earlier in the day provided a glimpse of his potential when he come close to breaking the national record en route to winning the men’s 1 kilomtre time trial.
Fadhil clocked one minute and 1.889 seconds, only marginally off the 1:01.658s national record set by Rizal Tisin when he won bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Poland.
Teammate Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom finished second on 1:02.356s.
“I was so close to Rizal’s record. I will try again, maybe I can do it at the Asian Cycling Championships (ACC) here (at Nilai) in February next year,” said the 19year-old.
“I feel grateful to be able to win as Shah had also competed. He is a very strong rider and I did feel nervous competing against him.”
Shah Firdaus admitted he was disappointed having also finished second in the men’s individual sprint yesterday behind Azizulhasni Awang.
“I came home late yesterday as I had to undergo anti-doping test, I reached (hotel) at 2am and woke up at 5am for today’s events so I am a little tired,” said Shah.
The 1km time trial is not Shah’s main event. He specialises in the keirin and the individual sprint. Azlan Muhammad Zain and Jumiati Rosly