KUALA LUMPUR: National track cycling rising star, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri is poised to become a world-class performer once she enters her mid-twenties.
National track cycling head coach John Beasley, however, called on all Malaysians to give the 20-year-old sufficient time to develop physically and also maturely, paving the way for her to set the track ablaze with her explosive performances in the future.
"Honestly, Nurul Izzah is blowing me away with how quickly she is learning but she is still in the process of growing and developing. If you try to fast-track that, you will get an injured athlete.
"Everyone is different, some develop quickly and some take a little longer. What I can tell you is that she will be good given time and we don't need to put pressure on her until she is in her mid-twenties because that is when you will see Nurul Izzah ready for the big stage," he told Bernama.
Last month, the Sungai Petani-born created a sensation when she emerged as champion of the women's keirin and ended a 12-year gold drought in the Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) in New Delhi.
The last time Malaysia won gold in the women's keirin was at the 2012 edition here, through Fatehah Mustapa.
Nurul Izzah also won gold in the 500 metre (m) time trial event, silver in the women's team sprint and bronze in the women's sprint at the New Delhi meet.
Despite her outstanding show in New Delhi, Nurul Izzah, could not maintain her momentum in the Hong Kong leg of the 2024 UCI Track Nations Cup last week, as she was sent packing early in both women's keirin and sprint events.
However, Beasley, who hailed the petite lass as 'The Pocket Rocketwoman', expressed satisfaction with her performance in Hong Kong Velodrome.
The Australian-born coach said the Malaysia Games (Sukma) champion delivered precisely what his team had expected during the latest round of the UCI Track Nations Cup in Hong Kong.
He said the tournament in Hong Kong offered her valuable lessons to grow immensely as a top cyclist, including tactical execution and exposure to competing with some of the world's best.
Beasley, currently in the United Kingdom for testing with his team, confirmed that Nurul Izzah will compete in the final leg of the UCI Track Nations Cup in Milton, Canada, slated to be held from April 12-14.
He also disclosed plans for the team to head to Australia this Friday for a training camp alongside Mohd Azizulhasni and the Sahrom brothers - Muhammad Shah Firdaus and Muhammad Ridwan - until April 7, ahead of their assignment in Milton. --Bernama