CYCLIST NUR AZLIA EMERGES AS MALAYSIA’S TOP FEMALE ATHLETE

KUALA LUMPUR: Cyclist Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais is the new darling of the Asian Para Games.

The 20-year-old, who only took up cycling 20 months ago, was in top form to win her third gold in the women’s (B) 1km by clocking 1: 16.839 at the Jakarta International Velodrome yesterday.

Muhammad Afiq Afify Rizan competed in the last race of the cycling competition and won his first gold – and Malaysia’s 17th – in the men’s (B) 1km by clocking 1:03.942.

Nur Azlia emerged as Malaysia’s best female athlete in the Games after winning three golds and one silver.

She bagged silver in the time trial on Oct 8 and a day later, she won her first gold in the road race.

On Oct 11, she bagged her second gold in the 3,000m individual pursuit.

Nur Azlia, who suffers from visual impairment since birth, said that she is thrilled to bits with her performance.

“I delivered medals in all four competitions I competed and this a good boost for my cycling career.

“I only took up the sport 20 months ago and I made a memorable debut in the Games. It feels really good to contribute three golds and one silver in the Games.

“It also feels good to be the best Malaysian female athlete in the Games,” said Nur Azlia, who bagged three golds in the Asian Para Championships in Nilai in February.

As for the 22-year-old Afiq, he said that he made amends by winning the 1km time trial event after failing to finish on the podium in his first event in the 4000m individual pursuit event on Thursday.

“I feel relieved to win the time trial event by clocking a personal best time,” said Afiq, whose previous best time was 1:04.192 set in the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

Malaysia also won two silvers and four bronzes on the eighth and last day of the Games.

Cyclist Aiman Asyraff Ahmad Bajuri clocked 1:05.240 to bag silver in the men’s 1km time trial and the other silver was delivered by Mohamad Yusof Hafizi (1:13.656) in the men’s (C-1-3) 1km time trial.

Nur Syahida Tajudin bagged bronze in the women’s (B) 1km time trial with a time of 1:18.795 while Ahamd Tarmizi Zuhairie posted 1:09.397 to bag the bronze in the men’s (C 1-3) 1km time trial.

The other three bronzes were delivered in badminton – Cheah Liek Hau in the men’s singles SU5; Like Hau-Hairul Fozi Saaba and Mohammad Faris Ahmad AzriAmyrul Yazid Ahmas Sibi – both in

the men’s doubles SU5.

Malaysia won a total of 17 golds, 26 silvers and 25 bronzes to finish eighth in the medal tally. The national para athletes surpassed the target of 15 golds.