KUALA LUMPUR: Track cyclist Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri has a spring in her step after her Olympic debut in Paris in August.
The Kedahan said after the high of the Olympics, she is mentally ready to compete at the World Championships in Ballerup, Belgium, from Oct 16-20.
In Paris, Izzah smashed her national record of 10.903 seconds in Paris with 10.709 in the qualifying round of the women's sprint.
"The preparation (for the World Championships) has been the same as the Olympics because this is a big competition, and I will compete against Olympians as well," said the pint-sized 1.52m cyclist.
"I have been working on improving my mental strength and on areas that were lacking during the Olympics.
"I think I'm much more relaxed or calmer (for big events) after competing in the Olympics."
Billed as the female Azizulhasni Awang, Izzah, who is seen as a potential medal prospect for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, understands the need to progress in stages.
"There is no need to rush because of the risk of picking up injuries. The key is to keep improving in terms of performance, rest and recover well and train hard," she said.
"My aim now is to gain more muscle and get stronger to improve my timing. For this we need to work closely with the National Sports Institute to plan and monitor."