PETALING JAYA: There was gold for Malaysia, but no Negara Ku at Indira Gandhi Complex Velodrome on the first day of the Asian Cycling Championships yesterday which saw Malaysia win two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal.

Top cyclist Azizulhasni Awang laid the blame on the absent manager, Ibrahim Mustapha, who he claimed was admiring the Taj Mahal instead of being at the velodrome.

Azizulhasni tweeted: “Disappointed with team manager at ACC India…the rest of the team racing at the velodrome while he went to Taj Mahal.

“There’s no national anthem for Malaysian first gold medal since the audio was with our team manager. Ridiculous!”

It is learnt Ibrahim claimed he had given a tape of the national anthem to the organizers.

He, however, is missing the point. As he is there as the team manager, shouldn't he be at the competition venue instead of gallivanting round India.

The scandal of not having the national anthem could have been prevented if he was doing his job.

Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Zonis and Irwandie Lakasek contributed a gold medal each.

Firdaus won the gold medal in the 1km time trial event by setting a meet record of 1:05.758s.

He finished the race ahead of South Korea’s, Kim Hyeon Seok (1:07.414s) and Japanese rider Hayato Okamoto (1:07.683s).

Irwandie, meanwhile, won the second gold for Malaysia in the men’s Junior 10km Scratch event ahead of Hong Kong’s Wan Hei Lau and Taiwan’s Yi Lin Li.

Malaysia failed to add a third gold in the men’s elite team sprint when the trio of Mohamad Edrus Md. Yunos, Muhd. Arfy Qhairant Amran and Mohd. Fattah Amri Zaid could only manage a silver after losing to China in the final.

The Malaysians recorded a time of 47.163s while the Chinese trio of Qi Tang, Ke Ho, Chao Xu defended their gold with a time of 46.576s.

Bronze was won by Japanese trio, Kenta Inake, Takashi Sakamoto dan Makuru Wada.The junior elite team also fell in the final, this time to South Korea.

The team, led by Firdaus, Asyraf Naim Ying dan Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom clocked 48.335s.

The South Korean trio of Kim Yeong Soo, Hyeon Seok dan Jea Hee Jung clocked 48.275s. Japan completed the podium by winning bronze.

In the women’s elite points race, Ju Pha Som Net won a bronze after she finished the 80 lap race behind Hong Kong’s Jamie Wong, who defended the gold medal which she won in the last year at the competition and Minami Uwano of Japan.

- G. Aravind, sports247.my

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