Ahmad dedicates gold to injured training partner

AHMAD Syazwan Roshdi has dedicated the gold he won in the men’s (C1/C2/C3) road race cycling competition at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games to injured training partner Nor Rizuan Zainal.

The 20- year- old led a clean sweep of the medals for Malaysia after he finished the 49.2km race in Putrajaya in 1’23:50.

Muhd Adi Raimie Amizazahan, who delivered the nation’s first gold of the Games on Sunday after winning the 1km time trial, was second in 1’23:50.

Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin grabbed the last podium spot in 1’23:55.

“If not for my teammates, I would not have won this gold. They worked so hard to cover for me.

“I’d also like to specially dedicate this win to Nur Rizuan.

“We have been training together for close to a year. In fact, he fell just 100m in front of me.

“Luckily, nothing happened to me or I would not have been racing today,” said Ahmad, referring to the car incident which struck the road cycling team at the Latar Highway near Rawang two weeks ago.

Nur Rizuan and four others, including coach Johari Nayan, were hit by a four-wheel drive in the incident.

Nur Rizuan is still recovering from a spinal injury and did not compete at the Games.

Ahmad, who is from Negri Sembilan, is taking a break after this.

“We’ll wait for instructions from the coach as to when training will resume.

“Our next big assignment should be the Asian Cycling Championships, which Malaysia will host next February,” he said.