SUKMA 2024: Muhammad Hafiq Bent On Delivering Medal For Melaka

By Nursuraya Zulkifli

MELAKA, July 29 (Bernama) -- National young rider Muhammad Hafiq Mohd Jafri is determined to give his home state, Melaka, the glory of a medal at the 21st Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak next month.

The 19-year-old athlete said even though the highway and criterium events that he is participating in at the Games are not his favourite events, he wanted to give his best ride and get on the podium.

Muhammad Hafiq who hails from Tanjung Bidara said while he did not set any medal colour on his first appearance at SUKMA, he is aiming for at least one medal through the criterium event.

"Actually my 'specialist' is track cycling events but at SUKMA there is no such event... for me the competition for the highway and the criterium is like an endurance track.

"I consider this as a challenge and will make sure to give my best in the race," he told Bernama.

Muhammad Hafiq said that one of the closest competitors at SUKMA will be his teammates at the National Sports Council (MSN), namely Terengganu rider Muhammad Afiq Iskandar Hasyim, as well as riders from Johor.

For the record, among the best achievements of the young rider is winning two silvers at the 2023 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) and one bronze at the 2023 Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games when representing the country.

The SUKMA Sarawak 2024 highway cycling event is scheduled for August 14 to 17 with the race starting and ending at Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Kuching Polytechnic Highway.

-- BERNAMA