Reach for the sky

Nur Aisyah aims to be Sukma top athlete with seven gold medals

NUR AISYAH Mohamad Zu ubair wants to leave a legacy in n the Malaysia Games (Sukma) ) in

Perak as the best ever cycli ist in the girls’ category.

At the last Sarawak Sukm ma in Kuching two years ago, the Kemaman-born rider bagged five golds but still failed to be named as the best female athlete in the Games.

But this time she came to Perak with a mission to end her third and last Sukma with a bang. She has set her sights to win a total of seven golds.

She started the ball rolling by winning the first event in cycling – the 30km individual time trial by clocking 44:57.316 at Arena Square Batu Kurau yesterday.

She finished more than a minute ahead of her teammate Nurul Najihah Inai Aziz, who clocked 47:30.954.

Yeong Zhen Yi of the Federal Territories clocked 49:29.641 to bag the bronze.

Nur Aisyah will compete in the 80km individual road race, keirin, criterium, scratch race, 1km individual pursuit and team pursuit.

The 21-year-old Nur Aisyah said she wants to create history in Sukma by bagging seven golds in cycling.

“I don’t think there is any female cyclist who has secured seven golds. I want to be the first,” said the national athlete.

“This is my third and last Sukma and I want to leave a legacy as the best ever female Sukma rider by winning seven golds.

“It is going to be a challenge but I am ready for it,” said Nur Aisyah, who will be competing the 80km individual road race tomorrow.

Terengganu also dominated the boys’ 40km individual time trial with Muhamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff clocking 43:53.128 to win gold while his teammate Muhammad Shaiful Adlan Mohd Sukri bagging the silver with a time of 44:52.161.

Selangor’s Muhsin Al Redha Misbah clocked 45:35.035 to settle for bronze.