Track cycling star Nurul Izzah Izzati set to face world keirin champ

 The 23-year-old defeated compatriot Nur Alyssa Farid 2-0 in the Asian championship quarter-finals to set up a meeting with Mina Sato of Japan tomorrow.

Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri will face two-time world keirin champion Mina Sato in the women’s sprint semi-finals of the Asian cycling championships. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 National women’s track cycling star Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s elite sprint event at the 2026 Asian Track Cycling Championships today.

However, a tough challenge awaits the 23-year-old rider as she is set to face two-time world keirin champion Mina Sato of Japan in the first heat tomorrow in Tagaytay city, the Philippines.

Izzah advanced from the quarter-finals with a dominant performance to defeat compatriot Nur Alyssa Farid 2-0, while Mina also secured a 2-0 win over Cho Yiu Yeung of Hong Kong.

The Malaysian men’s camp suffered a setback as Ridwan Sahrom was eliminated as early as the round of 16 in the elite sprint category after losing to Thailand’s Jai Angsuthasawit, a former Asian Games champion. - FMT