Track No-show Makes No Difference As Khairunnisa Rides To Road Race Gold

By Muhammad Faiz Baharin

KUCHING, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- No track event, no problem.

At least that’s the case with Johor cyclist Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam who, once she knew the track event had been dropped for the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), dived into getting ready for the road race challenge.

And today, the 20-year-old showed that she’s made of sterner stuff as she put aside the disappointment of not getting the chance to compete in her pet event by powering to the individual gold in the women’s mass start race in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 16 seconds (3:34.16s).

“When I found out that the track event won’t be contested, my coach helped me to focus 100 per cent on the road race. I was disappointed because I knew we could have retained the gold in the track event.

“As a result of my team’s support, I wasted no time in learning to adapt to the road race and, before today’s race, I promised myself to ride like there’s no tomorrow for the gold to repay the team’s faith in me and for Johor,” said Khairunnisa, winner of the women’s track 4-kilometre (km) team pursuit event at the 2022 edition, after completing the 109.8-kilometre mass start race along the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Highway here.

Kedah’s Nur Fitrah Shaari (3:34.34s) and Perak national rider Nyo Ci Hui (also 3:34.34s) had to settle for silver and bronze.

Meanwhile, the team event saw Kedah, comprising Nur Fitrah Shaari, Nurul Nabilah Mohd Asri, P. Phi Kun and Zahra Afifah Zamri, ride to golden glory with an overall time of 10:43.43s.

Kedah SUKMA cycling head coach Noor Alfizar Othman said their decision to set up camp here for the past two weeks proved to be a masterstroke as his riders managed to adapt to the race route.

“Our riders knew the route, memorised every hilly terrain, straights and bends. So, that made it easier for us to implement whatever strategy was drawn up to ensure we would be able to complete the race in the best position possible for gold.

“Alhamdulillah, throughout these three days we (the Kedah cycling team) managed to bag one gold, one silver and one bronze. This is a good momentum and we hope to harvest more gold medals after this, especially in the MTB (mountain bike) events,” she said.

The mass start race, which began at 8 am, also saw Johor, comprising Khairunnisa, Dania Avriel Alviera Azif, Nurina Qistina Zahraa Dewa Indra, Noormastura Norman and Siti Nurbalqis Akkaradet, taking silver in 10:43.43s.

Terengganu, represented by Dahlia Hazwani Hasyim, Erny Nadhirah Mohd Sazrul, Nur Shamimie Suzana Ismail, Ameera Alya Md Zahirrudin, Nor Najuwa Batrisya Mohd Suhaimi and Nur Aierin Wadhiah Mohd Adni, took home the bronze also in 10:43.43s.

-- BERNAMA