NILAI: The country's rising star of women's track cycling Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri created a sensation when she won the gold medal in the women's keirin event at the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) President's Cup II race yesterday.

The 19-year-old from Jitra, Kedah displayed an energetic show of speed to edge the more experienced Anis Amira Rosidi and Ching Yin Shan of Hong Kong who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Commenting on the race, Nurul Izzah, who is the Asian (women's keirin) champion, said the disappointment on Wednesday of not winning gold in the same event of the President's Cup I was the main motivation for her to make up for an excellent run in yesterday's race.

"The competition was quite intense because I had to catch up with quite a big gap, I didn't think I could outrun the others. In yesterday's race I was complacent, so today I was eager to get back into my winning stride," she said after the race at the National Velodrome here yesterday.

However, Nurul Izzah was earlier beaten into the second spot in the women's sprint after being defeated by teammate Anis Amira 2-0.

At the MNCF President's Cup I race on Wednesday, Nurul Izzah had to be satisfied with a fourth place finish in the keirin event, with the rider from Hong Kong, Yeung Cho Yiu winning the gold medal.

In yesterday's women's sprint, she also finished fourth with Yeung also winning the gold.

-- BERNAMA