SOURCES: NEWS STRAITS TIME
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian cycling received a RM2.7 million boost with the launch of the Yayasan Sime Darby Track series (YSDTS). The YSDTS, a collaboration between Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) and SportExcel, was launched by Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, YSD and SportExcel chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar at the National Velodrome in Nilai today.
YSD's commitment of RM2.7 million for three years will see the establishment of a series of track cycling competitions. There will be a total of 52 races — 14 in the first year, 18 in the second year and 20 in the third year.
Scheduled to begin next year, the races will be for male and female riders in age groups of Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and above 19. National track cycling coach John Beasley, who is technical adviser to the YSDTS, said the series will spur the formation of local professional racing teams, pave the way for junior cyclist development and provide a new avenue for national talent scouting.
"I have been in Malaysia since 2006. We won the first Olympic medal for cycling by winning the bronze in Rio in 2016, and then the silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"We have the talent in Malaysia and I felt that cyclists here lacked competition," said the Australian.
"The YSDTS will deliver the much-needed competition for cyclists here and I believe that at the end of the series, there will be more quality cyclists for Malaysia."
Tuanku Imran said the YSDTS is crucial in providing a proper and safe avenue that fulfils the needs of local elite and junior track cyclists.
By K. Rajan - December 9, 2022 @ 7:10pm