KUALA LUMPUR: The national women's track cycling squad did the nation proud ahead of Merdeka Day by claiming three gold medals at the Track Asia Cup 1 in Thailand earlier this week.
Youngster Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri emerged victorious in the keirin in Suphan Buri, edging Hong Kong's Yeung Cho Yiu for the gold, while compatriot Anis Amira Rosidi completed the podium.
Anis bounced back in the individual sprint, where she downed Cho Yiu (2-0) in the final to claim gold. Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan claimed bronze after beating Indonesia's Lestari Wiji 2-0.
Anis, Izzah and Aliana later joined forces in the team sprint and claimed gold after clocking one minute and 9.514 seconds to beat Thailand (1:09.641s). Taiwan took the bronze (1:11.183).
Izzah also took silver in the 500m time trial (36.726). Hong Kong's Yeung Cho Yiu took the gold on 36.507, while Lestari (36.869s) came in third.
National coach John Beasley is pleased with the results.
"The cyclists have the talent but need exposure and experience without being judged on every performance," said Beasley.
"They were in Thailand to gain racing experience. Race opportunities are something they are not getting in Malaysia at the moment, but we hope to change that moving forward.
"Izzah and Aliana are only 19 years old and have come through the era of Covid-19 with limited competition.
"I am happy with the way they are performing. The focus this year is on building up their lean muscle mass."
Meanwhile, Ahmad Safwan Ahmad Nazeri (1:06.545s) and Ridwan Sahrom (1:07.016s) claimed silver and bronze in the men's 1km time trial. South Korea's Park Sang Hoon (1:03.609s) won the gold.
Ridwan also took silver in the individual sprint after losing to Taiwan's Kang Shih-Feng (2-0) in the final. Taiwan's Hsiao Shih Hsin claimed bronze after beating Safwan 2-0 in the playoff.
Safwan, Amar Danial Masri and Fariz Haikal Kadir (1:04.117s) finished second in the team sprint after going down to Thailand (1:02.244s) in the final. Hong Kong (1:03.519s) claimed bronze.
In the junior events, Yong Ann Tung claimed double gold in the girls' individual sprint and keirin, while Azwa Nabila Abdullah (38.358s) triumphed in the 500m time trial.
Akmal Nazimi won the boys' keirin title and later joined forces with Umar Hasbullah and Zulfahmi Aiman to win the team sprint gold (1:04.415s).