NILAI: National rider Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri was all smiles despite having to concede defeat to reigning world champion Hetty van de Wouw in the quarter-finals of the women’s sprint event at the Track World Cup in Nilai.

In her very first quarter-final appearance on the world stage, Izzah lost 0-2 to the Dutch rider but it was still an impressive effort from the Kedahan, who had suffered a dip in form towards late last year.