Sibling rivalry pushes Airen past sister to win Sukma BMX title

Shah Alam witnessed a sibling rivalry climax as Airen Sofea Mohd Nor Aszeril claimed victory over her younger sister in the women's BMX Flatland event at the Malaysia Games (Sukma). The 18-year-old athlete earned 81.67 points, securing Selangor's first gold medal in the event. Her sister, Nia Nur Aidryana, took home silver with 74 points, while Federal Territories athlete Nur Qistina Abadi secured bronze with 67.67 points.

Airen admitted that she was initially disappointed after losing to Nia in a recent UCI competition. However, she expressed her pride in her achievement and thanked her coach for guiding her from "nothing" to winning the gold medal for Selangor. The UCI event was the reason for her disappointment, as Nia won there as well, leaving Airen surprised and proud of her own accomplishment.

Competing against her own sister added pressure for Airen, as they both knew each other's strengths and weaknesses. She admitted feeling nervous during the competition, knowing the challenges they posed to one another. Despite this, Airen secured the gold medal and expressed her pride in her achievement.

Airen, whose interest in BMX Flatland was sparked by her father, a former X Games competitor, expressed her hope that the sport remains in future Sukma editions. She has two more Sukma editions left and aims to retain the gold medal for Selangor. Additionally, Airen hopes to represent Malaysia in future competitions, including the SEA Games and the X Games.