Fit as a fiddle: Kedah cyclist Nur Fitrah Shaari racing to the finish line ahead of Federal Territories’ Yeong Zhen Yi in the girls’ criterium final.
NUR Fitrah Shaari overcame muscle cramps to produce another big shock for Kedah on the last day of the road cycling competition at the Pehin Sri Adenan Satim Highway yesterday.
The 20-year-old bagged the second cycling gold medal for herself and also for her state after coming out tops in the 32.4km distance long girls’ criterium race.
Fitrah was the first to cross the finish line at the end of the sixth sprint sector after chalking up 20 points.
Federal Territories cyclist Yeong Zhen Yi got the silver with 13 points, with Ameera Alya Zahirrudin taking bronze for Terengganu with 12 points.
What makes Nur Fitrah’s achievement even more impressive is that the road race is not even her main event as she is a mountain bike cyclist.
She only started to prepare for the road competition two months ago as the team management felt she has a chance to contribute medals in the discipline.
And now, she will return home as the only cyclist to win medals in all four road cycling events.
Fitrah also claimed a gold in the girls’ team road race event on Friday. She took silver in the individual road race and bronze in the individual time trial.
Fitrah said she did not expect to win the criterium gold event because the level of competition was high.
“I had cramps towards the end but I hung on. I’m really grateful for this gold medal.
“This is not my main event and the standard of competition is high as my competitors had prepared longer than us,” said Fitrah, who regularly competes in the mountain bike discipline and is a two-time national champion.
“After each sprint, everyone was attacking hard and it was tiring. Honestly, I was only targeting a medal but did not expect I could win the gold.”
Fitrah dedicated her win to Kedah cycling coach Noor Alfizar Othman, the Kedah State Sports Council and also team sponsor Helaz.
“This gold is for Acu (coach Noor Alfizar).
“She has sacrificed so much for us and convinced us to do our best and told us nothing is impossible if you worked hard and be really focused on your goal. Thank you, Acu.
“I also want to dedicate this win to everyone who had a hand in helping us,” added Fitrah, who will be aiming for a third gold when she competes in the mountain bike event next on Aug 21.
Mohd Afi Danial Ramli claimed the boys’ criterium gold medal for Terengganu with 19 points, beating teammate Mohd Iqbal Daniel Nawawi, who placed second with 16 points.
Mohd Hafiq Jafri got the bronze for Melaka with 13 points.
