KUALA LUMPUR – An unfortunate incident occurred this morning when national track cyclists Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan and Umar Hasbullah collided during a warm-up session ahead of the Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Track Series keirin event at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
National track cycling high-performance manager, Izham Mohamad, confirmed the incident to Scoop, stating that the entire track cycling team, led by technical director John Beasley, is currently awaiting the full medical report.
An initial medical assessment at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Hospital in Serdang suggests that Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Nurul Aliana may have fractured a rib.
Umar, meanwhile, is being treated for a cut on his lip.
“Yes, both cyclists crashed into each other following a collision with another cyclist during the warm-up before the morning session.
“We rushed them both to UPM Hospital in Serdang, where they are being treated. Both cyclists are in stable condition,” said Izham.
Speaking further about the accident, Izham said both national cyclists need not worry too much and can focus fully on recovery, as they are not competing in any major events this year.
“The YSD Track Series began last year and is a monthly event. Club, state, and national cyclists with UCI licences can compete for free.
“We’re not overly concerned, as Umar and Aliana won’t be competing in any races this year,” added Izham.
The YSD Track Series, which consists of 18 events a year, attracts about 120 riders each time.
Series 11 and 12 are scheduled for today and tomorrow. — October 5, 2024