KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- National para cyclist Nur Azlia Syafinaz Mohd Zais, along with her pilot Nurul Suhada Zainal, are optimistic that they will be able to deliver a more powerful performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
After her race ended prematurely during her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 due to breathing issues, Nur Azlia Syafinaz said that both she and her pilot, Nurul Suhada Zainal, are now better prepared after undergoing thorough training ahead of Paris 2024.
"So far, everything is going well. My health is good, and the doctor has given me the green light to compete. During Tokyo 2020, our training was conducted during the Movement Control Order (due to the COVID-19 pandemic), and we could only train at the velodrome, not on the highway.
"In Tokyo, the weather was cold, and I told Nurul Suhada that I couldn't continue the women's B road race time trial (for visually impaired athletes)," she told reporters after a visit from the Malaysian Chef de Mission for the 2024 Paralympic Games, Datuk R Subramaniam, here today.
Due to her health issue at Tokyo 2020, Nur Azlia Syafinaz and Nurul Suhada were unable to finish the race, stopping just three kilometr4s from the finish line before she (Nur Azlia Syafinaz) was rushed to a medical centre for further treatment.
In addition to the time trial event, Nur Azlia Syafinaz and Nurul Suhada will also compete in the women's B road race and two track events - the 3,000-metres (m) women's B pursuit and the 1,000m women's B time trial.
Meanwhile, Nurul Suhada said that as part of their preparation, they recently participated in a two-week tour across several locations in the country to boost their speed and momentum ahead of Paris 2024.
The 31-year-old pilot also expressed hope that they could give their best performance and finish the race in the best possible position in Paris.
She added that they have a better chance of achieving a higher placement in the road race event compared to track cycling.
"Even though our target is the top 10, we will go all out. We've been waiting for three years, so we don't want to just settle for the top 10. That's what I always remind Nur Azlia Syafinaz because in sports, anything can happen," she said.
The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games will take place from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
-- BERNAMA
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