Golden dreams go crashing
Two cyclists out of Games, two doubtful after truck rams into them
Our para athletes, with high hopes of winning gold medals in the cycling road race and time trial events of the Asean Para Games next week, had been training very hard. Their dreams, however, were dashed when a pickup truck rammed into the cyclists on a highway. Two medal hopefuls are out of the Games and two others are awaiting a decision by medical experts. The driver of the truck is likel to be charged today .
PETALING JAYA: The driver of a pickup truck who may have changed lanes without first checking has cost Malaysia dearly in the Asean Para Games which will start next week.
The four-wheel-drive rammed into the cyclists, including national coach Johari Nayan, as they were approaching the Bandar Tasik Puteri exit of the Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor (Latar) Highway at about 10.50am yesterday while they were riding from Ijok to Kampung Pandan.
The team of Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal, 31, Khairul Azwan Wahab, 25; Nur Syafiq Suhaimy, 19, and Khairul Nizam Mohd Ali, 23, all gold medal hopefuls, had left the sports centre in Kampung Pandan in the morning on a training ride.
The coach was riding a motorcycle when the accident happened at the intersection near Rawang.
“The driver has destroyed our hopes of winning at the Games next week. I cannot believe this happened to us with the Games so close,” said Johari, who was treated for bruises and abrasions at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
“Nur Syafiq-Khairul Nizam and Nor Rizuan-Khairul Azwan were our main hopes to win gold in the road race and time trial competitions. Now our plans are spoilt,” said a distraught Johari.
“Nor Rizuan has a spinal fracture while Nur Syafiq has leg fractures.
“They are definitely out of the Asean Para Games,” he said
Visually impaired Khairul Azwan, who suffered shoulder and head injuries, said his participation in the Games would depend on how fast he recovers.
He said he has been training for the Games for more than a year and would be very disappointed if he could not take part.
Coach Johari said they had observed all safety measures while training on the road.
“I was on a motorbike and the two tandem bikes were following behind closely. We were doing motorpacing training and safety is very important to us.
“Our escort vehicles had their hazard lights turned on.
“It happened so fast. I was on the ground suddenly and was shocked to see the cyclists lying all over the road.
“A passer-by told me he saw a black pickup truck knock us down and flee the scene.”
The victims were sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Nor Rizuan and Nur Syafiq came off the worst from the incident.
Cycling will be making its debut at the Asean Para Games, consisting of road and track disciplines.
Track cycling, offering 12 golds, will take place at the National Velodrome in Nilai from Sept 17-18. Road cycling, with 14 golds at stake, will be held in Putrajaya from Aug 20-21.
“The road cycling team is undoubtedly one of the contingent’s brightest prospects for gold. It’s unfortunate that they got involved in this road mishap,” said chef de mission Datuk Subramaniam Raman Nair.
“We hope some of them can recover in time for the competition.”