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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Aliana back on track after injury woes
KUALA LUMPUR: National track rider Aliana Azizan, who suffered multiple injuries in a crash last year, is expected to make a full comeback at the international level next season. National track cycling team head coach Harnizam Basri said he was pleased with both Aliana's performances as well as her confidence on the bike at the recent National Championships in Johor. It was her first race since suffering a fractured rib and a concussion in a local race in October last year. "She only trained for a month before the National Championships so to achieve what she did was quite impressive," said Harnizam recently. "Before that (one month period) she did not train on the bike. She would feel dizzy (due to effects of concussion) after doing gym work so we did not want to risk her losing her balance on the bike and crashing. "She has, however, improved a lot now and looks confident on the bike. "She is determined to regain her spot in the women's team sprint squad. We gave her spot to another rider when she was recovering. "Our goal is to prepare her for what will be a busy season next year. We will, however, be careful to monitor her condition to make sure she does not get injured. "We are hoping to see her race in the UCI Nations Cup as well as the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year." Aliana, who turns 22 next month, finished third in the women's individual sprint behind Izzah (gold) and Yong Ann Tung (silver) as well as silver in the 1 kilometre time trial behind Izzah at the National Championships in Johor. Harnizam disclosed that Aliana has been working hard to improve her strength and has increased from 54 kilogrammes to 60kg which is a positive sign.
New Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sprint-keirin double possible for Shah at national meet, says cycling director
KUALA LUMPUR: National cycling programme technical director John Beasley believes next month's national track cycling championships in Johor (May 20-25) will be the perfect opportunity for Shah Firdaus Sahrom to achieve a rare double victory. Beasley said Shah, who has been battling tendonitis in his right knee since early February, is now close to full fitness and confirmed he will ride at the Johor Velodrome in Iskandar Puteri. "Shah is probably 80 per cent recovered, it is just a matter of strengthening the knee now to ensure that the issue does not bother him again in the future," said Beasley. "He will ride at the nationals. This is his big chance to be national champion in both the (individual) sprint and the keirin, which Azizulhasni Awang won (both) last year. "Shah has won one - either the sprint or keirin - in previous years, however, he has never won both in the same edition of the competition. This will be a good opportunity for him to make the step up." Despite the injury, Shah has been in fine form this season and won the keirin event at the UCI Nations Cup in Konya, Turkiye last month. It was his first win in a major international event. Azizulhasni, who has not raced since the Paris Olympics, is on the comeback trail as he has not raced since the Paris Olympics. It is unknown whether he will race at the national meet as he is now an independent rider and is not obliged to race at the national championships. "He might race but it is not confirmed yet. We don't want to rush him and stress him when he is not ready," said Beasley recently. "Let's just do things right this year so we can have a really fast rocket next year." Azizulhasni, 37, had contemplated retiring and took time away from the sport to think about his future after the Paris games. The former world keirin champion announced his decision to continue racing, albeit as an independent rider, earlier this month.
