Good fight: Mohd Fadhil Zonis (third from right) in action in the men’s elite keirin final. — Bernama
NILAI: It was a day when the understudy turned the tables on her protege. Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam pulled off a big surprise by winning the women’s elite scratch gold medal in the Asean Track Series I at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday.
The 21-year-old from Johor stunned a field of experienced endurance racers to claim the biggest title of her young cycling career so far.
Khairunnisa managed to go in front as the field headed towards the halfway stage and continued to hold on to the lead to claim victory in the 40-lap race (10km distance).
Khairunnisa was herself caught by surprise as she cried tears of joy and needed time to regain her composure after the win.
It was not everyday that she got the better of her senior Nur Aisyah Mohd Zubir, who is a multiple SEA Games medal winner in a track endurance discipline.
Nur Aisyah, who represented Malaysia in road cycling at the Paris Olympics, settled for fourth behind South Korean Kim Min-jeong.
Valencia Tan of Singapore, who won the omnium event on Tuesday, took silver yesterday.
“I didn’t expect this. I trained together with Aisyah and she is the one I look up to and measure myself everyday.
“To be able to win this international race and to finish in front of Aisyah in her main track event is something I never imagined possible.
“I had a small window of opportunity to make the break in the race and I just went for it.
“I think whoever was able to hold on had the chance to do well but I didn’t expect I would be on top.
“I was just focusing on my own race and enjoying the opportunity to race,” said Khairunnisa, who bagged Johor’s first gold medal in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak last year when she won the women’s individual road race title.
Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam. — Johor Cycling
Khairunnisa is hoping the win will pave the way for her to get selected for the Malaysian team for the Asian Track Cycling Championships in Nilai next month.
“I don’t know yet if I will get a place. I just hope to get to ride in more events after this,” added Khairunnisa, who will also compete in the Asean Track Series II (Feb 18-19) and III (Feb 22-23) after this.
Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri continued to impress when she bagged her second gold in the UCI Class 1 competition.
The Paris Olympian cyclist timed her breakaway act to perfection to win the women’s elite keirin final duel ahead of South Koreans Kim Hae-eun and Cho Sun-young.
It is the second gold for Izzah, who won the sprint event on Tuesday.
Mohd Fadhil Zonis and Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena claimed silver and bronze respectively for Malaysia in the men’s elite keirin final won by South Korean Kim Seo-jun.
Mohd Ridwan Sahrom, who had taken bronze in the men’s elite sprint on Tuesday, did not make it to the main final but bounced back to win the consolation final (7-12th placing).
RESULTS
Men’s elite
Scratch final: 1. Park Sang-hoon (Kor), 2. Bernard Benyamin Van Aert (Ina), 3. Lau New Joe (Mas).
Keirin final: 1. Kim Seo-jun (Kor), 2. Mohd Fadhil Zonis (Mas), 3. Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena (Mas).
Men’s junior Sprint finals
For gold: Yu Jing Liang (Mas B) bt Mohd Luqma Ali Badrun (Mas B) 2-0.
For bronze: Sirawit Sansai (Tha) bt Kanawat Chuethanan (Tha) 2-0.
Women’s elite
Scratch final: 1. Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam (Mas), 2. Valencia Tan (Sin), 3. Kim Min-jeong (Kor).
Keirin final: 1. Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri (Mas), 2. Kim Hae-eun (Kor), 3. Cho Sun-young (Kor).
Women’s junior Sprint finals
For gold: Sawda Hasbullah (Mas B) bt Nur Umairah Qhaisar Razak (Mas B) 2-0.
For bronze: Janiece Lee (Prk) bt Nurul Akhma Ahmed Haizan (Pah) 2-0.
