Sarawak’s Nur Syafika takes off from the starting line for the individual time trial at the Matang FAC Highway yesterday.
KUCHING: Sarawak cyclists in action preferred to remain positive despite failing to win any medal on the third day of the Sukma road races yesterday.
Coach Dzulkaflee Hassan said his team gained useful experience against cyclists from other states in the men’s and women’s individual time trial.
“It was not one of our favourite events as we were aiming for other events for this Sukma XVIII. Nevertheless we were privileged to have raced against the finest cyclists in the country from the other states,” he said.
Nurazrenna Ahmad Jumry, one of the two state cyclists in the women’s event, remarked that as she is studying in Peninsular Malaysia she did not have adequate time to get used to the Matang FAC Highway.
For 15-year-old Sukma debutant Nur Syafika Natasha Kadir, it was more about gaining experience.
“It was an experience that I cannot forget, although it would have been much sweeter if I won a medal. I nevertheless get to test my mantle against the more experienced cyclists in this tournament,” she said.
Nurazrenna and Nur Syafika finished fifth and sixth respectively.
Their male counterparts Wan Haikal Wan Zainal and Muhammad Amzar Hazwan took 12th and 16th spots in the men’s event.
Terengganu’s duo of Mohamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff and Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir swept the two gold medals at stake.
The road races continue today at the Matang FAC Highway with the women’s 110 km individual and team event.