KUALA LUMPUR: Nur Alyssa Farid could be the next big thing in Malaysian cycling following her strong showing at the Junior Track World Championships in Luoyang, China.
She made history by becoming the first Malaysian female to qualify for the keirin final at the world junior meet on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old also set two new national junior records, in the girls' sprint and 500m time trial. Alyssa broke her own national junior sprint record with a time of 11.070 seconds to reach the quarter-finals before losing to China's Luo Shuyan.
She set another national record in the 500m time trial, finishing ninth in 35.469s, surpassing the 36.098s set by Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan at the 2021 world junior meet in Cairo.
The Muar rider was the only Asian to reach the keirin final but crashed while contending for the lead.
Alyssa, who trains under back-up programme French coach, Herman Terryn, said she was disappointed to crash out in the keirin final as she signed off from the junior level.
"A good start for breaking two national youth records. Fifth in the sprint and ninth in the 500m time trial. Not a good result after crashing in the keirin final," she posted on her Instagram page.
"Allah is the best planner. There may be better sustenance in the future. Thanks to my family, coaches, and mechanics. Signing out of my junior year."