KUCHING: The Terengganu cycling team dedicated their Malaysia Games (Sukma) men's mass start individual and team gold medals to their late coach, Muslim Marzuki, here today.
Muslim, who was previously the Terengganu Sukma coach, died in a motorcycle accident involving a lorry on November 12 last year.
Iqbal Daniel Nawawi and his teammates were present at the scene when the accident occurred at Kilometre 52 of Jalan Kuantan-Maran in Terengganu.
The team were preparing for the Negeri Sembilan Tour Championships at the time.
"We dedicate these gold medals to our late coach. We wished he were here to see us win the titles," said Iqbal.
"Coach Muslim worked hard to get us in the best shape for competitions. I told my teammates to rise and pedal to glory in his name."
The 20-year-old Iqbal won the individual gold after completing the 146.4-kilometre route along the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Highway in three hours, 39 minutes, and 16 seconds.
Iqbal, who recently transitioned from track to road cycling, said the two gold medals came as a surprise.
"I originally raced on the track, but track cycling was removed from this year's Sukma.
"Our coach recognised my potential and brought me on board to assist the road racing team.
"I did not expect two golds today," he said.
Terengganu also secured the team gold medal with a combined time of 10:59:25, repeating their two-gold feat from the 2016 Sukma, also in Sarawak.
Coach Syed Mohd Hussaini credited their success to sheer hard work and months of intensive training.
"Let's wait for the rest of the events… we may add more gold medals and turn our Sarawak campaign as our best-ever achievement in the Malaysia Games," he said.
The women's mass start individual and team events will be held along the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Highway tomorrow. - Bernama