MALACCA: Afiq Afify Rizan and Khairul Adha Rasol etched a historic milestone for Malaysian para cycling when they bagged the tandem B class sprint bronze medal at the UCI Track Para Cycling World Championships in Los Angeles last night.
It was just reward for the 22-year old Afiq, who suffered a cruel blow last September when he collapsed due to illness and had to be withdrawn just hours before he was due to start the same event at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“We knew we had prepared very well and this was one of the major targets this year. We expected to be faster than before and hoped that it would be enough for a medal. Then we were in the semi-finals and lost to the Great Britain pair,” said Afiq, when contacted.
“After that, the coach (Johari Nayan) just told us to not repeat any more mistakes and keep it together against the Russians as it was our chance to bag this medal. Thankfully, it all worked out.”
This puts behind Afiq the bitter disappointment after he suffered a viral infection and collapsed in the Games village, forcing his withdrawal from the Paralympics, an event where he had planned to stamp his mark.
“I am just so grateful. After what happened in Rio, I was very disappointed. I had worked really hard to get there and then I just had to be withdrawn. But the team got behind me and kept me going. They told me I was still young and I could do it in Tokyo,” said Afiq.
“This bronze medal more than makes up for that disappointment and it provides the motivation for me to push harder towards the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo.”
Coach Johari Nayan said the pairing of Afiq and former national junior track cyclist Khairul Adha as pilot is now an almost perfect match, having only been established after the Paralympics.
“Afiq is a powerful rider, so we required a strong pilot and we found the match in Khairul Adha. Both are young and have more potential in them which can be uncovered, so our job now is made just a little more easier. We just have to keep it together,” said Johari.