NILAI, 20 Feb 2018:
Malaysia will lobby to host one of the World Cup series for the 2019-2020 International Cycling Union (UCI) calendar.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said UCI president David Lappartient had reacted positively to the country’s intention for the bid.
“The government is prepared to provide financial assistance to the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM) to bid. He (Lappartient) seems positive (on the intention) but we have to go through the formal process to bid to host.
“I support the PKBM’s proposal for us to host the World Cup because we have built a world-class velodrome. it is better for us to utilise it by hosting a world-class tournament here.”
Khairy said the ministry would improve the current facilities at the velodrome to meet the requirement set for world championships.
“One of the reasons Malaysia is hosting the ACC (Asian Cycling Championships) here is for us to see what needs to be improved in preparing for the world championships’ bidding.”
At the ACC, Khairy expressed satisfaction with the performance of national cyclists, including the paralympic and junior athletes.
“I am proud of Jupha Somnet’s performance (bagging gold in women’s points race), as well as the paralympic team and junior athletes who have showed improvement in the Asia-level here.”
The national paralympic track cycling squad ended their campaign at the Asian Track Cycling Championship (ATC) 2018 with an impressive finish after bagging five more gold medals, two silver and three bronze on the fourth day.
The squad almost made a clean sweep of all gold medals after taking home nine out of 12 medals offered at the 38th edition of the championship which took place at the National Velodrome here.
Three of the five golds were obtained in the men’s category through Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin in the 1km C1-C3 individual time trial; Zuhairi Ahmad Tarmizi (1km C4-C5 time trial), as well as from the trio of Muhammad Adi Raime Amizazahan, Mohd Najib Turano and Zuhairi (team sprint event).
Two other gold medals were delivered by Nur Syafinaz Mohd Zais-Noraidillina Adilla J. Sam (women’s 500m individual B time trial) and Aiman Asyraff Ahmad Bajuri-Mohd Faizal Mohamed Noh (men’s 1km individual B time trial).
Meanwhile, Nur Syahida Tajudin-Nurul Suhada Zainal and Muhammad Khairul Nizam Mohd Ali-Muhammad Firdaus Mohd Zonis won silver via the women’s 500m individual B time trial and men’s 1km individual B time trial, respectively.
The bronze medals were contributed by Muhammad Afiq Afify Rizan-Muhammad Khairul Adha Rasol (men’s 1km individual B time trial), Shukor Farhan Suliman (1km C1-C3 individual time trial) and Mohd Najib (1km C4-C5 individual time trial).
National cycling ace Mohd Azizulhasni Awang was once again left disappointed in his own backyard after managing to secure only silver in the men’s individual sprint event at the ATC 2018.
The 29-year-old, also known as the ‘Pocket Rocket Man’, hit the track at the National Velodrome here with the mission of defending the Asian sprint king title he garnered in last year’s edition – but had to settle as first runner-up after losing to Kazunari Watanabe of Japan.
When met by reporters after the race, the Terengganu-born athlete admitted his disappointment but stressed the defeat was due to the higher gear used by the Japanese rider.
“I am disappointed by the loss but I have done my best and will follow all the strategies as planned by the coach. However, Watanabe got a little bit of advantage to accelerate faster because of the higher gear being used/”
South Korea’s Im Chaebin was second runner-up for the event.
Prior to this, Mohd Azizulhasni missed another gold medal after only securing bronze in the keirin event on Saturday.
However, he managed redemption after creating a new Asian record in the men’s elite sprint by clocking 9.774 seconds during the qualifying round.
Although Azizulhasni Awang, a world champion, only secured a bronze medal in the keirin event, Khairy believed the ‘Pocket Rocket Man’ had a more important mission – namely to defend the world title this year.
Meanwhile, the national squad can also heave a sigh of relief after bagging a gold medal via Zulhemi Zainal, who clocked 3:24.985s in the men’s junior 3km individual pursuit beating Kazakhstan’s Maxim Gridchin (silver) and Hun Jang of South Korea (bronze).
Another junior cyclist, Alif Aiman Safuan obtained silver in the sprint event after he lost to India’s Esow Esow. Andrey Chugay of Kazakhstan took home the bronze in the event.
– Bernama