APG 2025: Malaysia power To Four Golds In Track Cycling Despite Bike Controversy

From Farah Najihah Zuraimi

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysian para cyclists continued their impressive run at the ASEAN Para Games (APG) Thailand 2025 when they bagged four of five gold medals on offer in track cycling today.

Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin got the ball rolling in the men’s C1-C2 1-kilometre (km) time trial, despite facing some technical issues regarding his bike.

Mohamad Yusof rode to victory in one minute and 16.005 seconds (s), leaving Indonesia’s Alana Tifan Abid (1:16.655s) and Thailand’s Rimtamad Teerayut (1:25.237s) to settle for silver and bronze, respectively.

Credit to Mohamad Yusof, though, for not buckling under pressure when his bike failed the final pre-race check following a protest from one of the participating countries, and several adjustments had to be made to the bike before he was allowed to compete.

“… though it wasn’t cleared (initially), I didn’t take it personally and just focused on my ride. When I started picking up speed, my left knee hit the aerobar, which disrupted my cycling, because it hurt. I had no choice but to ride on,” he said.

Despite the difficulties, an elated Mohamad Yusof said he was grateful to have contributed to Malaysia’s medal tally and thanked everyone who supported him.

He, however, said he will get his left knee, which he hurt during the race, examined by National Sports Institute (ISN) doctors later today.

There was more joy for Malaysia when Ahmad Ahlami Mohamad bagged gold in the men’s B 1km time trial in 1:06.252s, edging out Thailand’s Surachai (1:06.620s) and fellow Malaysian Mohd Khairul Hazwan Wahab (1:07.207s).

Nur Suraiya Muhamad Zamri delivered gold number three when she clocked 1:16.203s to triumph in the women's B 1km time trial, leaving Thailand’s Boonmalert Watcharobon (1:16.254s) to take silver and Indonesia’s Zulaika (1:17.046s) the bronze.

Malaysia's fourth gold medal of the day in para cycling came in the mixed tandem team sprint, with Thailand and Indonesia settling for silver and bronze, respectively.

Malaysia missed out on making a clean sweep when Zuhairie Ahmad Tarmizi (1:10.425s) and Ahmad Zharif Ahmad Nazri (1:10.490s) could only clinch silver and bronze, respectively, in the men's C3-C5 1km time trial, which was won by Thailand's Niwanti Jaturong (1:08.321s).

-- BERNAMA