KUALA LUMPUR – Fresh off her track-blazing performance at the Asia Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi, India, last month, all eyes will be on Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri at the second leg of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Nations Cup in Hong Kong starting on Friday.
The 152cm sprinter ended a 12-year wait for gold in the women’s keirin event after turning on the afterburners as she approached the final bend to cross the finish line first.
Anis Amirah Rosidi added joy to the Malaysian camp by winning the bronze.
The last time Malaysia won gold in the event was through Fatehah Mustapa in 2012 at the Cheras Velodrome.
She followed that up by winning another gold in the 500m time trial, adding to her silver in the team sprint and bronze in the individual sprint event earlier in the championship.
However, the pint-size Kedahan has found the going tough against western cyclists twice her size.
At the first leg of the Nations Cup in Adelaide, the 21-year-old was dumped out in the first round of the individual sprint by Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Lauriane Genest of Canada.
In the keirin, she finished fifth in her heat in the first round and sixth in her group in the first round repechage at the Adelaide Superdrome.
Nurul Izzah realises it is difficult for her to get on the podium in Hong Kong, but she does have her eyes set on a specific target.
“At the Hong Kong Nations Cup, I have my eye on the 200m team sprint and time trial. I want to improve and maybe break the national record in both events.
“It’s possible to get on the podium, but it’s a bit of a struggle because I’m still in the top 20. I’ll try my best,” she told reporters at the National Velodrome after returning from New Delhi.
The Hong Kong leg of the UCI Nations Cup will be held at the Hong Kong Velodrome from March 15 to 17. – March 13, 2024