KUALA LUMPUR – The national track cycling team, competing during Ramadan, continued their poor performance at the Nations Cup Hong Kong.
All three riders, Nurul Izzah Izzati, Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom and Shah Firdaus Sahrom exited early in their events again today.
At the Hong Kong Velodrome today, Ridwan failed to get past the qualifying round of the individual sprint after finishing 30th, while big brother Shah Firdaus made it through as the 26th-fastest rider.
In the first round, Shah faced the challenge of Frenchman Sebastien Vigier, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist in the team sprint.
Vigier easily won the heat, which meant the end of Shah Firdaus’ tournament.
Yesterday, Ridwan and Shah Firdaus did not make it out of the first-round repechage in the men’s keirin after being unable to finish in the top two of their respective heats.
Meanwhile, Nurul Izzah could only finish fourth in Heat 3 of the first round in the women’s keirin. The top rider qualified straight for the second round.
The 21-year-old then headed to the first-round repechage but could only finish third in Heat 5 where only the winner would make it to the second round.
Yesterday, Nurul Izzah disappointed in the qualifying round of the women’s individual sprint after finishing with the 30th-fastest time.
Only the top 28 progressed to the next round.
The Kedahan will next head to the Milton leg of the Nations Cup in Canada, which is scheduled from April 12 to 14. – March 17, 2024