MNCF determined to resolve Sea Games road cycling funding issue
The two teams had previously stated that they will not release their riders for the biennial games if the National Sports Council (NSC) does not meet their requests for funding. MPC had also requested for new time trial bikes.
The Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) today (July 23) announced that they will submit a new Sea Games budget to NSC within one week.
The new budget will take into consideration requests from TSG and MPC.
Representatives from NSC, MNCF, MPC and TSG attended a four-hour meeting in Bukit Jalil today to discuss preparations for the games.
MNCF president president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, technical director John Beasley and road cycling committee chairman Norazman Abu Samah were among those present.
"I feel things are moving positively, there is nothing in this world that cannot be resolved through discussion," said Amarjit.
"NSC have always had an open door policy and they are willing to consider any additional support required for the Sea Games.
"I have asked the (MNCF) road committee to prepare a detailed budget for the Sea Games which we will submit within a week. We have to be quick because the Sea Game is just a few months away.
"I believe most of the requests from TSG and MPC are acceptable.
"I can't speak on behalf of NSC, however, I believe they will accept some of the requests but maybe not all. We are hoping for a positive outcome."
TSG had previously requested RM250,000 from NSC to cover training and competition expenses (at warm up races) to prepare their riders for the Sea Games. It is understood that MPC had been seeking a similar amount.
NSC had early this year allocated RM300,000 to MNCF for road cycling though only RM196,000 remains after RM104,000 was spent on preparing and sending riders to compete at the Asian Championships in Thailand earlier this year.
Amarjit said the response from both professional teams was positive after the meeting.
"I think they were both quite receptive, they understood the situation and that NSC also has constraints," said Amarjit.
"When we left the meeting, everyone had smiles on their faces which is good.
"At the end of the day, we just want to make sure we have the best riders representing the country at the Sea Games."
Amarjit disclosed that nine riders have been shortlisted for the Sea Games squad - four from TSG, four from MPC and one from St George Continental Cycling Team.
Ren Bao Tsen is currently on the books at St George, which is a UCI continental squad from Australia.
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