Bravehearts
Nur Aisyah shines on track debut to claim fourth gold
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. Just ask Terengganu cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohd Zubir. With no experience racing in track events, Nur Aisyah blew the competition away to claim the 10km scratch gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak. Federal Territories’ Winnie Eng May Xin put a cool lid on a fever she had since Tuesday to win and break a 22-year Games record in the heptathlon. Selangor weightlifter Nur Afiqah Nadrah Mohammed Borhan put all her resolve to be in the national team as motivation en route to breaking the national record in the girls’ below 90kg snatch.
DESPITE riding on unfamiliar turf, cyclist Nur Aisyah Mohd Zubir showed her pedigree by demolishing the field to claim the girls’ 10km scratch race gold medal for Terengganu at the Velodrome Rakyat in Ipoh.
With her family watching from the stands yesterday, Nur Aisyah led training partner Ezzatie Fifiyana Shazwanie Hisham and never dropped her pace until the finish line to win her fourth gold in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The lean-looking Aisyah was thrilled to add the scratch title to her collection after making a stunning sweep of all three events on the road – individual time trial, criterium and road race in Taiping a week ago.
But the 21-year-old pointed out that it was no stroll in the park.
“I started the scratch race as an underdog because I am not a track rider. I only managed to train for about a week ... like 10 hours or so,” said Aisyah, who is hoping her exploits will earn her a place in the national team.
“Maybe I have the endurance from the road training and I was prepared mentally for this challenge.
“I was not so sure of winning as this is my first Sukma track cycling campaign but the presence of my family members, including my father (Zubir Sulong), boosted my spirits.
“They came all the way from Kemaman yesterday to watch me race in the track events,” said Nur Aisyah, who will compete in the 4km team pursuit today.
Nur Aisyah has also entered for the 3km individual pursuit and keirin scheduled for tomorrow.
An afternoon shower yesterday forced the organisers to reschedule the boys’ and girls’ sprint events as the outdoor timber track was deemed unsafe due to the slippery conditions.