Cycling coach hopes for peace ahead of Thailand Sea Games

New Straits Times

3 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) team principal Sayuti Zahit hopes Thailand and Cambodia will resolve their differences amicably before the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20).
Thai and Cambodian forces clashed for five days across their border, killing at least 36 people and displacing over 200,000, before both sides agreed to an unconditional ceasefire yesterday (July 27).
Sayuti said the Thailand Sea Games mass start road race route could be affected if the conflict reignites as the finish line at the Khao Yai National Park is less than 190 kilometres from the Thailand-Cambodia border.
The start for the individual and team time trials in Prachin Buri is roughly 160km from the border.
Sayuti had co-coached the Malaysian national road cycling team during the last two editions of the Sea Games in Hanoi (2021) and Phnom Penh (2023). He is expected to reprise the role for the Thailand Sea Games.
A total of four MPC riders have been shortlisted for the Thailand Sea Games squad.
"We really hope that both Thailand and Cambodia will settle their differences amicably in the spirit of Southeast Asian (Asean) brotherhood," said Sayuti when contacted today (July 29).
"This is the first time we (MPC) have encountered such a situation and it is a bit worrying for us because the routes are not really that far from the border.
"Ultimately, the safety of our riders and staff remains our absolute priority and we will continue to monitor the situation.
"We will follow any directives issued by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) or the government ahead of the Sea Games."
Cambodia had hosted the previous edition of the Sea Games in 2023.
The Sea Games is a biennial multi-sport competition intended to provide athletes from Asean nations a platform to showcase their skills and boost camaraderie among athletes from Asean countries.