Aliana fighting to win back Asian Games team sprint spot

KUALA LUMPUR: Two years after contributing to Malaysia's bronze medal and a national record at the Asian Games, Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan is vying to regain her spot in the women's team sprint squad for the Aichi-Nagoya event scheduled from September 19 to October 4. A concussion sustained during the 2024 Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Series at the National Velodrome in Nilai forced Aliana off the national sprint line-up.

Since then, her return to form has been a tough uphill climb, as she battles to reestablish herself in a fiercely competitive national team. In her absence, junior rider Nur Alyssa Farid has emerged as a vital player, partnering with Anis Amira Rosidi and Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri to secure silver at the Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) in February.

The trio also set a new national record of 48.458 seconds, surpassing the mark Aliana had previously set with Izzah and Anis at the 2024 Hangzhou Asian Games. This accomplishment only intensifies the pressure on Aliana, who now competes among four riders vying for three spots in the sprint squad. Despite acknowledging the record as a setback, Aliana remains confident and firmly believes she can reclaim her place.

She emphasizes that the team's silver medal at the ACC serves as proof of their potential, and she is determined to be part of the combination that breaks the national record again. However, Aliana acknowledges that her recovery must be approached cautiously, considering the blackouts she experienced for several months following her crash.

She stresses the importance of a gradual return to full strength, with her gym workouts being slowed down and her overall approach being more deliberate to avoid another severe setback. Once back on the bike, Aliana says her fear of another crash has vanished, allowing her to fully commit to her training and help Malaysia surpass its previous Asian Games bronze performance.