Nur Rizuan returns with a bang to clinch gold with Khairul

NILAI: It was a stunning comeback for pilot Nur Rizuan Zainal when he clinched a gold for Malaysia with blind cyclist Mohd Khairul Hazwan Wahab in the men’s (B) 4km individual pursuit at the Asian Track Championships in Nilai.

Five months ago, Nur Rizuan’s dream of winning a gold at the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur was crushed after he and four others, including para cycling coach Johari Nayan, were knocked down by a four-wheel drive vehicle while training at the Latar Highway near Rawang.

Nur Rizuan stayed in the hospital for more than a month to recover from a spinal injury in the accident that happened two weeks before the Games.

Nur Rizuan was reunited with his partner Khairul at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday and they turned the tables on the Gold Coast Commonwealth Gamesbound pairing of Afiq Afify RizanKhairul Adha Rasol to win in 4:41.211.

Afiq-Khairul, who won the men’s (B) sprint event on Saturday, settled for silver in 4:42.240.

Nur Rizuan-Khairul qualified second in the qualifying session earlier (4:40.722) behind Afiq-Khairul (4:38.234).

“I think Afiq-Khairul made a mistake and could not give their best,” said Nur Rizuan.

“I’m happy to win a gold with my partner here.

“I was out for a long time because of the accident last year and could not partner him.

Then, Khairul partnered Muhd Nur Misbah Rauf to win the Asean Para Games gold medal (in the men’s road time trial).

“I came back to train with the team again two months ago. I finally got a chance race at our own indoor velodrome,” said Nur Rizuan.

Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais -Noraidillina Adilla J. Sam bagged their second gold medal in the Asian meet in the women’s (B) 3km individual pursuit event when they posted 3:55.076 to leave Nur Syahida Tajudin-Nurul Suhada Zainal in second spot (4:07.925).

Nur Azlia-Noraidillina won the women’s (B) sprint event on Saturday.