Ju Pha ready to ride SEA Games golden trail

KUALA LUMPUR: National cyclist Ju Pha Som Net wants to be a part of the country's gold medal contributors in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017), especially cycling, that has targetted 13 gold medals. 
Ju Pha who took a break from competitions since October last year to undergo training after being recruited in the police force, returned to active competition in Taiwan (June) and Japan (July).
"After completing my training in the police force, I joined the cycling team's training in Melbourne for a month and participated in the Asia Cup Championships in Taiwan (June) and Japan Cup in July. My performance and achievement in both competitions were good.
"This has given me the confidence and momentum once again, especially to compete in the SEA Games. My target is to win the Omnium (track) event although competition will be tough from Thailand and Vietnam riders. Competing at home will be an added pressure," she said when met at the SEA Games contingent's centralised training camp at the Renaissance Hotel, today.
The 23-year-old rider from Perlis believes she can be one of the riders to contribute a gold medal towards the Malaysian National Cycling Federation's 13-gold target for the SEA Games.
In the 2015 Singapore edition, Ju Pha could only manage a bronze medal in the women's Criterium but failed to finish on the podium of the Mass start after being involved in an accident.
"If I can climb onto the podium in the road race this year, it will be a bonus because Thailand and Vietnam have good riders. I have to avoid being involved in accidents," she said.
Other women riders in the SEA Games squad are Grace Phang, Nur Aisyah Mohamad Zubir, Sharifah Nur Ilyana Syed Zulkifli, Nurul Suhada Zainal, Nurul Alissa Mohd Azman and Nur Azrenna Ahmad Jumry. — Bernama