KUALA LUMPUR – National rider Sheikh Muhammad Taslim Shaikh Mohd Raziff created history when he became the first champion of the men’s BMX Freestyle Flatland Elite at the 2023 National BMX Freestyle Championship at Mont Kiara Skate Park yesterday.
The 2019 Philippines SEA Games bronze medallist performed according to form by easily defeating the nearest contender Hafiz Abd Wahab with more than 20 points to garner the gold in the event which was competed for the first time.
The Selangor-born cyclist, also known as Botak, put on a dazzling show to clinch 262 points overcoming Hafiz (242 points) and Mohd Redza Rahman (231.5 points) who took the silver and bronze respectively.
Sheikh Muhammad Taslim, 33, conceded he is excited that he finally don the national jersey after seeing other riders fight for the national jersey for the track, road, BMX and mountain bike disciplines.
“The BMX Freestyle community have been waiting for this moment, so when the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) announced holding the national championship, we were very happy.
“I have been dreaming of my own national jersey for a long time, and finally, my dream of wearing the national jersey of the Flatland Elite event has finally come true. I don’t know how to explain this feeling,” he said through an MNCF statement, today.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Syafiq Norazlan emerged as the champion of the Park Elite men’s event by collecting 85 points to beat Zafrin Sabikin with a seven-point advantage.
Muhammad Saiful Ariff Bahaudin, on the other hand, had to settle for bronze when separated by only two points compared to Zafrin.
The elite Women's Flatland category saw Nur Airen Sofea Mohd Nor Aszeril become the national champion when she won 240 points, far ahead of her nearest competitor, Nia Nur Aldryana Mohd Nor Aszeril with a 24 points advantage.
Another rider, Nur Aidelia Raisha Mohd Nor Aszeril finished third with 189 points. – Bernama, June 26, 2023
