Sukma 2022: Johor cyclist Siti Nur Adibah bags first gold

SEREMBAN: After eight years of dreaming of winning a gold medal, Johor road cyclist Siti Nur Adibah Akma Mohd Fuad finally succeeded in realising that dream in her final appearance at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2022 today.

All the more sweeter, the 23-year-old did her state proud by winning the the first gold of this edition of the Games in the women's individual time trial in Bandar Sri Sendayan, here.

The Hanoi Sea Games silver medallist displayed an energetic ride over the 29.7 kilometres (Km) to emerge champion in a time of 44 minutes and 25.801 seconds.

National cyclist Nyo Ci Hui, representing Perak, won the silver after clocking 45:52.607s while Terengganu's Siti Nur Alia Mansor (46:25.155s) had to settle for the bronze.

Siti Nur Adibah, who had expected to win the event, said it was her best performance after four times competing in the Sukma, starting with the Pahang edition in 2012.

"I've been aiming for gold for a long time, so today, the day I've been waiting for, I just focused on my plan and did my best," she told reporters.

Siti Nur Adiba is next aiming to win the gold in the women's mass start this Friday

Since winning two gold medals, in the individual time trial and team mass start in the 2014 edition in Perlis, she experienced an eight-year gold medal drought.

In the 2016 edition in Sarawak, Siti Nur Adiba had to settle for silver in the cross-country mountain biking event and did participate in the Perak Sukma in 2018.

Meanwhile, Johor continued to dominate road racing when Muhmmad Nur Aiman Rosli emerged as the champion in the men's individual time trial, overcoming stiff resistance from Kee Zhe Yee of Terengganu to clock 53:08.865s in the 39.9km race.

Kee Zhe who had to be satisfied with the silver after posting 53:44.086s while the bronze went to Perak's Muhammad Yusri Shaari (54:06.108s).

Aiman, who is also the national champion in event three times in a row, was satisfied because he was able to win the gold medal for Johor in his last participation in the Sukma, furthermore it being his pet event.

"Even though my preparations were not very good because I had influenza and was lying at home before the Games, but I was able to do it and after this I also aim to hunt for the gold in the team event tomorrow," he said.

-- BERNAMA