KUALA LUMPUR: Competing in her last Malaysia Games, Johor cyclist Siti Nur Adibah Akma Mohd Fuad won the first gold on offer at the Kuala Lumpur edition today.
She came out tops in the women's 30km individual road time trial with a time of 44:25.801 in Sendayan, Negri Sembilan. Perak's Nyo Ci Hui took silver in 45:52.607 ahead of Terengganu's Siti Nur Alia Mansor who clocked 46:25.155.
The 23-year-old said it was a pleasant surprise to have the distinction of winning the first gold of the 2022 Malaysia Games.
"I didn't expect it. I feel so happy to be a part of the history of the Games.
"Usually, the men's event will be flagged off first, so it was a bit nervy when I got to know that I could win the first gold medal.
"I had won the National Championship in this event for the last three years in a row. So, I was confident," said Siti whose previous outings at the 2014 Perlis and 2016 Sarawak Malaysia Games didn't yield gold.
The rider from Tangkak will compete in the Individual Mass start 100km on Friday, the criterium on Saturday and track events in Nilai next week.
The petite Siti admitted that she had contemplated quitting the sport after the Covid pandemic forced life to come to a standstill in the last two years.
"I had to wait for four years to compete in the Malaysia Games again after the Johor edition was cancelled. I thought of quitting but I had people with positive vibes," said the UiTM student.
"My wait has been worthwhile. I finally won the gold medal in my pet event," said Siti.
And the town of Tangkak produced another cycling champ at the Malaysia Games with Nur Aiman Rosli winning the men's individual road time trial gold for Johor.
The three-time national champion clocked 53:08.865s in the 39.9km race in Sendayan. Terengganu's Kee Zhe Yie settled for silver with 53:44.086s while
Yusri Shaari of Perak bagged the bronze with 54:06.108s.
Aiman, 23, who is also from the same housing area as Siti, quipped that the water from the mystical Gunung Ledang in Tangkak could be the secret behind his and Siti's success.
"Siti stays just behind my house, so there's something in the water in Tangkak, maybe it's the water from Gunung Ledang that produces gold medal-winning cyclists," he said.
Aiman revealed that he was down with influenza for two weeks and had to double his training to regain his fitness.
"This is my fourth and last Malaysia Games. This is my favourite event and I need to win it."
Aiman, who said his target at these Games is to win three gold, will compete in the individual mass start on Friday and the track events next week.