KUALA LUMPUR: Hopes of seeing the country win a historic gold medal in track cycling at the Paris Olympics were dashed, but there were glimpses of promise elsewhere in what was a mixed year for Malaysian cycling.
Fans had anticipated a fairytale ending at the Paris Games in August, with Azizulhasni Awang securing the nation’s first-ever Olympic gold.
Instead, the 36-year-old faced heartbreak when he was disqualified in the very first round of the keirin for overtaking the derny.
Compatriot Shah Firdaus Sahrom advanced to the keirin final but crashed.
On a brighter note, Shah, Azizulhasni and Izzah Izzati Asri all recorded personal bests over 200 metres at the Paris Olympics.
Izzah, 20, also reached the semi-finals at the Ballerup World Championships in October, consolidating her status as a rising star for Malaysia.
Earlier in the year, she clinched two gold, one silver and one bronze at the Asian Championships in New Delhi.
Despite earlier retirement plans, Azizulhasni is expected to continue competing as a national rider next year, albeit on a reduced scale.
In road cycling, Nur Aisyah Zubir became the first Malaysian woman to compete in the discipline at the Paris Olympics.
She, however, was forced to drop out due to cramps roughly 100 kilometres into the race.
For the men, Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) sprinter Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil, 29, stood out this season with five podium finishes in UCI-level tours.
His improved performances have seen him tipped as a successor to Harrif Saleh, who will turn 37 next year.
The demanding back-to-back climbs of Fraser Hill and Cameron Highlands during the Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi in September, however, proved punishing.
Five Malaysian riders, including Izzat and Harrif, were ejected from the race after finishing outside the time limit during stage four, along with 13 other foreign cyclists.
Meanwhile, the national mountain biking team achieved a historic two gold and three bronze medals at the Asian Championships in Putrajaya in May.
Despite financial constraints that left the team relying on donated eggs, sardines and biscuits, the squad recorded impressive results.
Zulfikri Zulkifli (men’s cross country eliminator) and Nurul Azlina Razali (women’s junior downhill) secured the two gold medals, while Ahmad Syazrin Awang Ilah (men’s cross country eliminator), Nur Fitrah Shaari (women’s cross country eliminator) and Phi Kun Pan (women’s cross country) brought home bronze medals.
Popular cycling administrator Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill was elected as the new Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president during their AGM-cum-elections in October, replacing the late Datuk Abu Samah Wahab.
Amarjit’s election has been positively received by the cycling community, who hope he will bring much-needed reforms to the sport.
Looking ahead, Malaysian cycling will focus on several major events next year, including the Asian Track Championships in Nilai in February, the World Track Championships in Chile in October and the Sea Games in Thailand in December (road and track disciplines).
-NewStraitsTime