HUGE UPSET
Terengganu’s Wan takes gold using idol’s bike
USING a bike borrowed from his idol Anuar Manan, Terengganu’s Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan created what was arguably the upset of the tournament in the track cycling event at the Perak Malaysia Games yesterday.
The 19-year-old put in an inspired performance at the openair Velodrome Rakyat in Ipoh, crossing the line first in four minutes and 44.215 seconds to defeat Johor’s Eiman Firdaus Zamri by more than six seconds in the 4km men’s individual pursuit final.
Eiman, who won gold in the discipline at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games last year, was the hot favourite in the event.
Sabah’s Waldron Chee (4:55:753s) downed Muhsin Al Redha Misbah of Selangor in the bronze decider.
Wan said he was grateful for the support he received, including from Anuar, who is one of the greatest road sprinters Malaysia have produced.
“Most people thought I would not be able to beat my opponent (Eiman), even my personal target was only to finish in the top-four,” said Wan yesterday.
“But I felt incredibly inspired today, maybe because of the tremendous support I have been receiving from my coaches, my parents, who travelled all the way here to watch me race, and also Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
“I also feel very lucky that my idol Anuar let me borrow his bike today. It meant a lot to me and I managed to take in some of his winning aura.”
Wan, who won the criterium gold and road race silver, added that he was mentally prepared to face anyone in the final including Eiman.
The latter has already been competing in major competitions at the international level, including the recent Indonesia Asian Games.
“Bigger races are usually held in an indoor velodrome, so I felt that I had a slight advantage competing outdoors here. I also felt that I had an advantage in terms of stamina,” added Wan.
The men’s individual sprint final witnessed Selangor’s Shariz Efendi Shahrin overcoming Ridwan Sahrom of Johor in the final. Johor’s Khairil Nizam Rasol took the bronze after defeating Selangor’s Alif Aiman Safuan.