Para cyclists end Asian C’ships campaign with four golds.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian para cyclists were unstoppable as they pedalled their way to another four gold medals to end their Asian Cycling Championships campaign in Jakarta, Indonesia, on a glorious note.

Tokyo Paralympic hopeful Afiq Afify Rizan partnered able-bodied pilot Khairil Adha Rasol to a comfortable win in the men’s (B) 1km time trial final yesterday.

Afiq-Khairul clocked 1:04.359 to take their second gold of the championship ahead of teammates Aiman Asyraff Ahmad Bajuri and able-bodied pilot Nur Rizuan Zainal.

Aiman-Nur Rizuan ensured Malaysia the silver when they clocked 1:05.856 to overtake Japan’s Kazuhei Kimura-Takuto Kura- bayashi, who finished with 1:06.064.

Afiq-Khairul claimed the sprint gold medal on Thursday.

Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais (pic) and her able-bodied pilot Nurul Suhada Zainal continued to make heads turn with another dominant display to clinch their third gold of the championships.

Nur Azlia-Nurul Suhada posted 1:16.178 to win the women’s (B) 1km time trial event as Indonesian challengers Sri Sugiyanti-Magfiroh Nimal settled for silver with 1:17.718.

Malaysia’s Nur Syahida TajudinNoraidillina Adilla J. Sam took the bronze with 1:20.052.

Nur Azlia-Nurul Suhada had won the sprint and 3km individual pursuit events on Thursday and Friday respectively.

The Malaysian camp had cause to celebrate early in the day after Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin, Adi Raimie Amizazahan and Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi romped to the mixed team sprint title.

The trio clocked a new Asian record of 53.705 to leave the Indonesian combination of Mohd Fadli Imamuddin, Martin Losu and Syaipul Anwar settling for the silver with 54.791.

Zuhairie, who got involved in track cycling after he lost his right hand when it got stuck in a sugarcane machine, stormed to his second gold of the championship by winning the men’s (C4-C5) 1km time trial event.

Terengganu-born Zuhairie, who was the nation’s first gold medallist for track cycling at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta last year, clocked the fastest time of 1:09.498.

Indonesia’s Losu Martin took the silver with 1:12.089 ahead of compatriot Saori Sufyan (1:13.424).

Malaysia failed to make it a clean sweep of all five finals contested when Adi Raimie and Yusof Hafizi settled for silver and bronze in the men’s (C1-C3) 1km time trial event.

Adi and Yusof clocked 1:16.849 and 1:18.252 respectively behind Japan’s Shota Kawamoto (1:16.130).

Assistant coach Mohd Iqbal Sokri said the seven-gold haul was a fantastic effort and confirmed their status as the strongest team in Asia.

“It’s important for them not to let their guard down after the Asian Para Games as we want to work on getting the men and women to get at least one slot each for the Tokyo Paralympics,” said Iqbal.

“The performances from the track and road will be considered in the quota slot for the Asian continent.

“It’s a bit easier for the men as the top six from Asia will qualify while it’s only three for the women.”