KUCHING: Rider Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam produced Johor's first gold medal at the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) after winning the women's individual road mass start event today.
The 20-year-old came out on top in a bunch sprint finish. Kedah's Nur Fitrah Shaari was second and Perak's Nyo Ci Hui, the individual time trial gold medallist, rounded up the podium.
All three riders recorded identical time of three hours 34.34 seconds each, but Khairunnisa was declared the winner by race officials.
Khairunnisa, competing in her last Sukma, said: "Previously, I won gold in the team event, but I really wanted the individual gold this time as this is my last Sukma. This is a sweet memory that I will never forget."
Thirty-eight riders raced six laps around the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Highway over a total distance of 109.8 kilometres.
Sarawak's Nurfara Ain Nabiela Abdullah Hafiz made an early breakaway in lap one, and had a lead of one minute over the peloton for three laps before the group caught up with her.
"We just kept calm when we found out the gap between the peloton and the leader was creeping up to almost two minutes.
"We started working with the other states until we were able to catch up with the leader at lap four," said
Khairunnisa.
But Khairunnisa could not make it a double joy in the team category as Kedah's Nur Fitrah, Nurul Nabilah Asri, Phi Kun Pan and Zahra Afifah Zamri emerged winners.
Johor, represented by Khairunnisa, Dania Avriel Alviera Azif, Nurina Qistina Zahraa Dewa Indra, Noormastura Norman and Siti Nurbalqis Akkaradet won silver. Terengganu, represented by Dahlia Hazwani Hasyim, Erny Nadhirah Sazrul, Nur Shamimie Suzana Ismail, Ameera Alya Md. Zahirrudin, Nor Najuwa Batrisya Suhaimi and Nur Aierin Wadhiah Adni, won bronze.