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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
MPC prepared to meet NSC 'in the middle'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) team principal Sayuti Zahit is hoping they can come to a "win-win solution" with the National Sports Council (NSC) regarding funding for the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MCNF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill today (July 23) ordered the MNCF road cycling committee to prepare a new budget request for the Sea Games to be submitted to NSC by the end of the week. The new budget will take into consideration requests from TSG and MPC. Sayuti views the move positively. He attended a meeting to discuss preparations for the Sea Games together with representatives from NSC, MNCF and TSG in Bukit Jalil today. "I am grateful that everyone attended the meeting, especially the president (Amarjit). It shows that we are all working together to find a solution. Hopefully we will get a better outcome than before," said Sayuti. "Hopefully NSC will give us some leeway and meet us in the middle. We can compromise but let it be a win-win solution for all parties. "Once the new budget has been submitted we will wait to see what the counter-offer is like." 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. During a meeting with TSG, MPC and MNCF earlier this month, NSC had indicated that they were not keen on allocating additional funds for the Sea Games road cycling squad. MPC and Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) subsequently stated that they will not release their riders for the biennial games if NSC does not meet their requests for funding. MPC had also requested for new time trial bikes. 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. It is, however, unlikely either team will get the full amount they have requested.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Pro cycling team feels slighted after NSC budget snub
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Professional Cycling (MPC) confirmed that they will not be sending their riders for the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20) if they do not get the support they need from the National Sports Council (NSC). The Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) road committee recently requested a budget from NSC during a meeting with them. The budget is to prepare the road squad for the Sea Games though it was rejected outright by the latter. MPC team principal Sayuti Zahit attended the meeting together with MNCF road committee chairman Norazman Abu Samah as well as Terengganu Cycling Team chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus. "We only managed to verbally mention our requests during the meeting and were immediately shot down by the NSC officers," said Sayuti when contacted today (July 12). "We decided not to present to them our proposal for the Sea Games as they appeared adamant for us to just use the remaining budget they had given MNCF for this year. "We need new time trial bikes as well as some funds to support our riders in preparation for the Thailand Sea Games. "The same time trial bikes can also be used for the 2027 Sea Games so it would be killing two birds with one stone. "As I have said before, our best bet for gold at the Thailand Sea Games will be in the individual and team time trial events but we need to have up to date equipment to be on a level playing field with Thailand and the Philippines. "Without these bikes and proper preparation it would be almost pointless for us to send our riders to Thailand as we have very limited chances in the mass start road race. "If we do not get any positive news from NSC by next month, we will likely be withdrawing from the Sea Games competition." Hosts Thailand have opted to include long and steep climbs for the mass start road race to boost their riders' chances of winning thus Malaysia's best bet of gold would be in the time trial. The time trial bikes cost roughly RM80,000 each. Norazman earlier this week disclosed that NSC had allocated RM450,000 to MNCF to cover road cycling, mountain biking and BMX programmes for this year. MNCF had allocated RM300,000 to road cycling though only RM196,000 remains after RM104,000 was spent on preparation and competition costs for the Asian Championships in Thailand earlier this year. Sayuti, who had also founded MPC's predecessor, Team Sapura Cycling, said he felt that Malaysian professional cycling teams, including TSG, have not been appreciated enough for their contributions to the country. Malaysia's pro riders have won gold at every edition of the Sea Games since 2015 - except during Manila 2019 - which proves their consistency. "We have been more than happy to send our riders to compete for the nation over the years and because of the pro teams, NSC have not had to keep (men's) road cyclists on their full-time programme," said Sayuti. "We have been developing riders for the country - which is essentially NSC's job - using our own funding. Indirectly, this has saved them money. "In total, road cyclists from pro teams have won six Sea Games gold medals for Malaysia over the past 10 years. "Other sports such as football have not won gold at the Sea Games for a long time and yet, they still get millions in funding each year. "Cycling is without a doubt a team sport. You need six riders to win one gold. "Preparing a team for the Sea Games costs money and as a pro team, we only have limited funding from our sponsors. "This is why it is very disappointing and disheartening when we get immediately turned down when we ask for help. We feel that our efforts and contributions have not been appreciated."
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Time trial bike investment crucial for Sea Games success, says coach
KUALA LUMPUR: The national men's road cycling team will need new time trial bikes if they are to have any chance of striking gold at the Thailand Sea Games on Dec 9-20, says Sayuti Zahit. Sayuti, who co-coached the national squad during the Hanoi 2021 and Phnom Penh 2023 Sea Games, said Malaysia's best bet to win a gold medal at the games will come through the team time trial event. This is because Thailand have opted to use a hilly route that better suits their riders for the mass start road race, which will offer two golds in the men's individual and men's team categories. Thailand has also opted to leave out the criterium, an event Malaysian riders have traditionally excelled in. "Our best chance of gold will definitely be in the team time trial event. Thailand have opted to use a relatively flat course for the event near the Suvarnabhumi Airport," said Sayuti when contacted recently. "Thailand has been preparing well for this event and has all the latest equipment which is crucial in the time trial as aerodynamics plays a key factor. "Their riders have been very consistent in time trial events held in recent seasons. The Philippines have also been solid in this event. "Having said that, I believe our riders have the ability to win it if we have up to date equipment, otherwise we would be at a disadvantage as soon as we roll off the start line. "The equipment we currently have is very outdated. Being on par (equipment-wise) with our rivals would give our riders the confidence they need to win it. "The time trial bikes can also be used for the 2027 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games so we will be covered for at least two Sea Games cycles." Malaysia previously won the mass start road race individual gold through Nur Aiman Zariff at Hanoi 2021 and Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki at Phnom Penh 2023. Sayuti added that wind tunnel testing should also be factored into the budget. "In addition to six time trial bikes, we also need aero helmets and skinsuits as well as some time in the wind tunnel," he said. "Wind tunnel testing would allow us to maximise our average speed. Our riders can only put out a certain amount of watts, being as aerodynamic as possible can make a huge difference. "The national track cycling squad has benefitted from wind tunnel testing for some time now, I think the road squad deserves to do the same." Malaysia National Cycling Federation's (MNCF) road cycling committee chairman Norazman Abu Samah last week disclosed that the national body is seeking RM600,000 in funds from the National Sports Council (NSC) to purchase the time trial equipment which will be used for the next two editions of the Sea Games games. They are expecting to meet with NSC officials tomorrow (July 8).
New Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Rivals hold the edge in Sea Games road cycling
KUALA LUMPUR: National riders did well to win gold in the men's road cycling events at the last two editions of the Sea Games. Repeating the feat at this year's Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20), however, will not be an easy feat. Hosts Thailand are expected to use a steep summit finish in the mass start race to maximise their chances of snagging the gold on home soil. Malaysia is known for producing potent sprinters and breakaway specialists over the years but lacks a strong and experienced out-an-out climber suitable for the course. Malaysia Pro Cycling team principal Sayuti Zahit expects riders from Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines to excel in this year's mass start race. Sayuti, who co-coached the national squad for the last two editions of the games, listed Thailand trio Peerapol Chawchiangkwang, Thanakhan Chaiyasombat and Navuti Liphongyu, the Philippines' Nichol Pareja, Jonel Carcueva and Joshua Pascual, Laos' Ariya Phounsavanth and Indonesia's Aiman Cahayadi as among the favourites for the event. In addition to individual medals for the top-three finishers in the mass start race, there will also be a team category this year where the timing of the first three riders from each country will be combined to determine the medallists. "Thailand has not revealed the whole course for the mass start race this year but it will definitely end with a summit finish," said Sayuti when contacted today (June 2). "We have been told there will be about 15 to 20 kilometres of climbing leading into the finish line with gradients exceeding 20 per cent. "It will require a long and sustained effort which will definitely suits their (Thailand) riders. No surprises there. "The Thai trio will be among the favourites there and will be extra motivated to secure a win in front of their home crowd. "In terms of strength in depth, Thailand and the Philippines have the advantage for the team category but there are other riders who could win the individual gold. "Aiman Cahyadi has a lot of experience and is very smart in terms of tactics. Indonesia has a good set of younger riders coming up the ranks so he will also get good support during the race. "Ariya has the engine and the experience needed to win it as he has clinched gold before (Myanmar 2013). He would be my bet to win the individual gold. "But he does not have the same quality of teammates to support him as his rivals so he will have to race smart." Peerapol clinched silver - the top Southeast Asian finisher - in the Asian Championships mass start race which was also held in Thailand earlier this year. Thailand have also included the individual time trial and team time trial events among the list of men's road events for this year's Sea Games but have opted to omit the criterium, an event Malaysia has traditionally been strong in. Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki clinched gold (mass start) and silver (criterium) for Malaysia during the 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games. Nur Aiman Zariff won the mass start gold while Nur Aiman Rosli clinched the individual time trial bronze for Malaysia during the 2021 Hanoi Sea Games, which was held in 2022 due to Covid-19.
