KUALA LUMPUR: Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri's encouraging showing at the recent World Track Cycling Championships in Glasgow will offer the rising star confidence when she competes at the Hangzhou Asian Games from Sept 23-Oct 8.
Izzah dipped below the 35-second mark for the second time this year to finish 19th in the 500m time trial in Glasgow earlier this month.
She also finished 31st in the sprint to emerge as the sixth fastest Asian behind China and Japanese cyclists. In the keirin, she could not get past the heat and repechage.
"This is the second time I participated in the world cycling championships. It was quite exciting because I was able to qualify for it," said the Kedah-born, who won the 500m time trial silver medal at the Asian Championships in Nilai in June.
"I still have a long way to go. Although I finished my races, I still have to improve."
"The experience in Glasgow makes me more motivated. I want to improve myself further to be a better cyclist. Hopefully, my dream will come true."
China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea will likely dominate the women's track events at the Asian Games.
Fatehah Mustapa remains Malaysia's only Asian Games medallist in the women's category. She clinched the keirin silver at the 2014 Incheon edition.
Izzah and compatriots Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan and Anis Amira Rosidi have an outside chance of returning with medals from Hangzhou.
National coach John Beasley said Izzah is progressing but is still a novice on the international stage.
"Izzah is still a novice, although she has progressed over the last 12 months. She is young and it would be good if we just give her the time to mature," said the Australian.