NILAI – National track cyclist Muhammad Fadhil Zonis is poised to lead fellow riders Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom and Umar Hasbullah in pursuit of the coveted gold medal in the team sprint at the coming championships.
Expressing confidence in their abilities, Fadhil, a key member of the trio, emphasised the importance of addressing minor weaknesses while consistently honing each rider’s strengths to achieve optimal performance.
“I believe there’s still room for improvement in our performance. They are still young and there is still a lot of time. I’m sure we can break the national record. I have to guide them,” he told reporters today, Bernama reported.
Reflecting on their recent silver medal at the Asian Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi, Fadhil acknowledged the team’s progress, noting their improved performance from previous competitions.
The trio, who clinched bronze at the National Velodrome in Nilai last year, showcased remarkable advancement by securing second place with a record time of 44.607sec at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.
Despite falling short of the gold medal, Fadhil expressed gratitude for the team’s achievement, acknowledging the stiff competition they faced, particularly from defending champions Japan.
“Our aim was gold, but securing silver is commendable. Although we felt the pressure before the final race, our team delivered well,” Fadhil added.
Having been teammates since June of the previous year, Fadhil, Ridhwan and Umar have consistently demonstrated their synergy and potential, a partnership that commenced during the 2023 ACC in Nilai where they clinched bronze.
Previously, Fadhil collaborated with national track cycling champions Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom as part of the national men’s trio. – February 28, 2024