Malaysia reaped a silver medal in the last road cycling event in the 29th KL SEA Games 2017 through Mohd. Shahrul Mat Amin in the 141km race which was held in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

Nawuti Liphongyu of Thailand won the gold medal by clocking 3:26:00s while Mai Nguyen Hung of Vietnam completed the podium. A total 55 riders from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar took part in the race.

The Malaysian team was represented by six riders namely Hariff Saleh, Anuar Manan, Mohd. Zamri Saleh, Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki and Muhammad Adiq Husainie Othman and Mohd. Shahrul Mat Amin, teammates from the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG).

“It was a tough race and i never expect to be in the top three. Thank you to my teammates who did all the effort to ensure i stayed in front throughout the race. I fought hard to put up a challenge on the Thai rider, but he went stronger especially in the last 10 kilometer. The Thai is too strong,” said Shahrul.

As the defending champion, Hariff was closely guarded by the Thais, Indonesian and Vietnamese rider who keep a close eye on his race strategy. He was not at his peak form and he found it difficult to make a breakaway throughout the race.

As the road race event closed it’s curtain on Thursday, the Malaysian cycling squad deliverd two gold medals, three silvers and one bronze with the gold achieved by Hariff Saleh (men’s criterium) and men’s team time trial. Silvers were contributed by Jupha Somnet (women’s criterium and mass start) and Mohd. Shahrul Mat Amin (men’s mass start) while Mohd. Zamri Saleh won the bronze in the men’s criterium.

Next on the card will be the BMX event scheduled to be held in Nilai on Saturday.

Source: KL2017