BANGKOK: Malaysia’s men’s elite team sprint riders – Ridwan Sahrom, Fadhil Zonis and Akmal Nazimi Jusena – delivered a ride for the ages at the 2025 SEA Games by storming to gold and obliterating the national record.
The trio powered to victory in 1:00.520 over 1,000m, edging hosts Thailand in the final while wiping out Malaysia’s previous national benchmark of 1:02.077, set at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
The gold wasn’t just another podium finish but it was redemption for the team, particularly Fadhil, who described it as his last race of the campaign as cycling draws to a close at the biennial event.
“I gave everything. There was no holding back,” said Fadhil.
“Yesterday, I didn’t get a medal (men’s individual sprint), so today I didn’t want any regrets. I wanted to give 100 per cent for the team, for myself. Alhamdulillah, we delivered.”
The Malaysian squad have been wary of Thailand after seeing the hosts post a strong time in qualifying, prompting a tactical reset before the final.
“In qualifying, we were just trying to find our rhythm and make sure we got into the final,” said Ridwan.
“Thailand’s timing was good, so we sat down with the coaches and discussed what we needed to do. We just had to keep the momentum and go for gold.”
The strategy paid off in the final, with Akmal setting the tone, Ridwan generating blistering speed through the middle leg, and Fadhil unleasing a full-throttle finish.
“In the final, everyone gave 100 per cent,” said Fadhil.
“Ridwan delivered the speed, Akmal set it up well, and I just went full gas. We trusted each other and the process.”
For Akmal, the victory was the perfect payoff after more than a month of intensive preparation, including a training camp in Chiang Mai, as well as months of planning that began early in the year.
“This gold is the reward for all our hard work,” Akmal said.
“We trained together for over a month, prepared since the start of the year. Thailand have an advantage on an outdoor track, but we stayed focused and believed in our training.”
The trio also took pride in rewriting the national record books, with Akmal highlighting the significance of surpassing a mark that had stood since the Incheon Asian Games.
“We won gold and broke the national record,” he said.
“That Incheon record had been there for a long time. To finally break it, and by such a margin, means a lot to all of us.”
Before Malaysia’s golden moment, there was another podium finish as Lau New Joe clinched silver in the men’s points race.
New Joe initiailly challenged for gold before a post-race protest altered the final standings, with Thailand’s Boonratanathanakorn Thurak awarded the top spot after a rebiew of the points.
Indonesia’s Bernard Benyamin Van Aert took bronze.
Together, the gold and silver capped off a highly productive SEA Games campaign for the Malaysian track cyclists – with four gold and one silver medal.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
