Cycling

Women's sprint team set new national record at Nations Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: The national women's sprint cycling team underlined their credentials as a medal prospect at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September following a fine showing at the UCI Track Nations Cup in Jakarta on Friday.

Cyclists Anis Amira Rosidi, Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri and Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan set a new national record of 50.388s at the Rawamangun Velodrome in the women's team sprint qualifying session, smashing the previous record of 50.559s set at the Asian Cycling Championships in New Delhi last year.

The trio, however, could only finish 12th out of 15 teams, with Britain (46.987s) topping the qualifying session ahead of China (47.132s) and the Netherlands (47.136s).

Japan were the second-best ranked Asian team, clocking 48.442s, but they too missed the top-eight cut by finishing ninth. Germany went on to claim the gold with 46.613s ahead of China (46.755s) in the final.

National head coach John Beasley was happy with his charges' record-breaking feat.

He is confident they will crack the 50-second barrier ahead of the Asian Games.

" I am very excited with the women's progress, and I believe they will be better in Cairo (the second leg of the Track Nations Cup)," said the Australian coach.

"Anis is in great form, and I expect her to break the 200m sprint national record soon.

"Aliana is still recovering from a back injury. She will have the potential if she is fit.

"She has not been feeling any pain for the last two weeks and is doing well in training.

The men's team also failed to clear the qualifying round after finishing 15th out of 21 teams.

The team, comprising Asian Championship silver medallists Fadhil Zonis, Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Ridwan Sahrom, clocked 45.436s as Australia topped the qualifying session with 42.775s.

Australia held on to their form in the final, clocking 42.599s to beat reigning Olympic champion Netherlands (48.734s) to the gold medal.

The second and third legs of the Track Nations Cup will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from March 14-17 and in Milton, Canada, from April 20-23.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories