Anis grabs big prize in girls’ cycling for tiny Perlis
TINY Perlis do not have a velodrome but they can now boast of a Sukma cycling champion in Anis Amira Rosidi.
Anis, who is alreadyy attached with the elite trackk squad in Melbourne, livedd up to expectations to deliver the girls’ sprint gold medal for Perlis at the Velodrome Rakyat in Ipoh yesterday.
The 20-year-old from Kangar easily beat Siti Nur Alia Mansor from Terengganu in two heats.
Anis, who was fastest in the qualifying round on Thursday before rain forced the organisers to stop the proceedings, reached the final after beating Selangor’s Nurul Nazirah Rosli in two heats.
The lanky cyclist, who stands 1.68m, was relieved to secure the gold for Perlis despite riding in hot conditions.
“I did not compete in the last Sukma in Kuching two years ago because I was chosen to go for the World Junior Track Championships (in Switzerland), so I’m glad I managed to get my first gold in the Sukma.
“Perlis were looking to me to deliver gold, so I’m happy I delivered for them,” said Anis, who made her Sukma debut in her hometown in Kangar in 2014 but did not win a medal.
Anis made her Asian Games debut in track cycling in Indonesia last month and will be heading to Bangkok, Thailand, for the Track Asia Cup series next month.
Melbourne-based track cyclist Mohd Shariz Efendi Mohd Shahrin of Selangor twice came from behind in both heats to beat Johor’s Muhd Ridwan Sahrom to the boys’ sprint title.
The 17-year-old Muhd Ridwan, who is the younger brother of national cyclist Muhd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, did well to reach the final after beating another Melbourne-based cyclist Muhd Khairil Nizam Rasol 2-0 in the semis.
Khairil Nizam had to work hard to get the bronze for Johor, needing to go to a deciding race to beat Alif Aiman Safuan 2-1.