Ju Pha’s ticket to big ride

Tuesday June 14, 2011

By LIM TEIK HUAT


KUALA LUMPUR: After becoming the first track cyclist to be named as the best sportswoman in Sukma (Malaysia Games), Ju Pha Somnet is ready to ride on to pursue bigger targets in her blooming career.

The Perlis lass received the accolade for bagging four gold medals – in the sprint, individual pursuit, scratch and 500m time trial events – in the track cycling competitions at the velodrome in Cheras here last week.

Ju Pha competed in five individual disciplines and only Ummi Hamimah of Terengganu prevented her from chalking up a 100% win record.

Nevertheless, she managed to take silver in keirin.

And the 18-year-old from Chuping is delighted to have single-handedly contributed four of the five gold medals for Perlis.

Ju Pha could have won another gold medal but she dropped out of the points race final as it was held on the same day as the sprint and individual pursuit.

“I’m more than happy with what I got.

“It’s a pleasant surprise to get this recognition (best sportswoman) as there were others who also won several gold medals for their state,” she said.

“This award is a good motivation for me to push for better results as I move to the senior ranks. I will be competing in the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man in September and I think that will be my last assignment at the junior level.”

Ju Pha hopes to make the squad for the SEA Games in Jakarta in November.

“I have never competed in a major multi-sport Games. I was too young to make the squad for the Asian Games in Guangzhou last year and I hope the SEA Games will be my first,” said the versatile cyclist, who can excel in the sprint and endurance disciplines.

Ju Pha has a good collection of silver and bronze medals from the last two editions of the Asian junior championships.

And her move up to the senior ranks next year is seen by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president, Datuk Naim Mohamad, as timely.

“We will host the Asian championships in Kuala Lumpur. The track events will be held at the velodrome in Cheras and Ju Pha can form a strong partnership with Fatehah Mustapa for the team sprint,” he said.

“China are currently the strongest in the event but we can take them on if we start preparing one year from now.”