Arfy wants to honour his mum by winning his first Sukma gold

By LIM TEIK HUAT


KUALA LUMPUR: Malacca youngster Muhd Arfy Qhairant Amran (pic) wants to honour a promise made to his mum on Mother’s Day to win his first Sukma (Malaysia Games) gold medal in track cycling.

Arfy is tipped to a winner for Malacca after a hot run at the Asian junior championships in Korat in February. He ended Malaysia’s four-year gold drought in championship series in the sprint and also bagged two silver medals – in 1km time trial and team sprint events.

The 18-year-old goes into the Sukma track cycling competitions, starting today at the velodrome in Cheras here, with the message from his mother, Ayyu Didi, still fresh in his mind.


“I have promised my mother that I will get a gold medal for Malacca,” said Arfy, who hails from Masjid Tanah.

“I missed out when my state hosted the Games last year. I only got a bronze (in 1km time trial).

“My mother supports participation in track cycling although she is aware of how dangerous it can be at times. She advises me to give my best in any competition and not half-heartedly.

“I want to keep my part of the bargain as I will not be seeing her and my family members for some time after Sukma. I will be on attachment with the national elite team based in Melbourne.”

Arfy will leave for Melbourne on June 12 to get ready for the world junior track championships in Moscow (August) and the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man (September).

Arfy will compete in four events in Sukma – 1km time trial, keirin, sprint and team sprint.

“I believe I have good chances to win gold in all the individual events,” said Arfy, who also bagged the keirin gold in the Track Asia Cup at the velodrome in Cheras last year.

“The competition will be tough as other back-up squad cyclists like Mohd Fattah Amri Zaid and Fakhruddin Daud are capable of denying me on the day.

“In fact, it is a prestigious fight for all the gold medals as this is the first time that Sukma track cycling races will be held in a velodrome.”

The eight disciplines in the Under-21 competitions for men and women are individual pursuit, team pursuit, scratch, points race, time trial, keirin, sprint and team sprint.