MGF believe gymnasts selected for SEA Games will shine in Thailand
Artistic gymnastics technical chairman Mohd Faiz Mohd Ameer is confident that the athletes selected will be able to shine for the country, despite the competition format favouring hosts Thailand, as it will focus on individual events.
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The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Malaysia set to send strongest track cycling squad for SEA Games
Onwards to glory: Injured but determined Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom hopes to land on the podium at the Asian Track Cycling Championships starting in Nilai on Friday. PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian National Cycling Federation of Malaysia (MNCF) will send their strongest track cycling squad, led by Track Nation Cup keirin champion Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, for the Thailand SEA Games in December. MNCF finally breathed a sigh of relief when they received approval to send 28 national cyclists under category A to compete in the SEA Games. The decision was reached after the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) selection meeting saw the national road cycling team obtain additional funds to compete in the Thailand SEA Games. MNCF secretary Ahmad Arif Astaman said they were grateful for the approval of the justification presented on putting all except three cyclists under category A. "We will send national cyclists to compete in all four disciplines - road, track, BMX and mountain bike," said Ahmad. "MNCF will also commit the strongest team for the track cycling events. Track cycling is rarely held at the SEA Games and the current batch of cyclists have never had the chance to compete before, so we will give them the opportunity to stand on the podium. "Malaysia will be chasing for gold medals in especially the road and track cycling disciplines. "We are grateful for the support shown by the National Sports Council (NSC) and OCM. "It's also due to the close cooperation with NSC and OCM who understand our needs at the SEA Games. "This (putting under category A) will boost the confidence of the cyclists to perform their best and bring glory to the country.'' Malaysia should dominate the men's track cycling competition, which takes place at the outdoor Hua Mak Velodrome in Bangkok. Thailand have four events for men (team sprint, keirin, team pursuit and points race) while the scratch race is the event for the women. Malaysia emerged overall champions with 13 golds the last time track cycling was contested at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. The national road cycling team, with support from Terengganu Cycling Team and MPC's predecessor Team Sapura Cycling, have consistently delivered gold for Malaysia at the SEA Games over the past decade. Malaysia have won six gold medals in men's road cycling over the last five editions of the SEA Games.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
NSC to negotiate Sea Games road cycling funding this week
KUALA LUMPUR: Cycling fans will likely know whether professional teams Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) will allow their riders to compete at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20) by the end of the week. Both teams previously made it clear they will not release their riders to the national squad if the National Sports Council (NSC) does not meet their request for funding, which had not been approved by the latter previously. The teams are disappointed as they have to spend a substantial amount of funds to prepare riders for the competition. NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin confirmed that he will sit down with the Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) to discuss funding for the road squad this week. The Sea Games Selection Committee - comprised of representatives from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), NSC as well as the National Sports Institute (NSI)- yesterday (Aug 12) approved nine road riders - four from TSG, four from MPC and one from St George Continental Cycling Team - for the Sea Games under category A. Category A athletes' competition costs - not to be confused with preparation expenses - are fully funded by the government. "We received their (MNCF) request letter last week and now that they have been approved under category A, we will discuss this with them this week," said Jefri yesterday. "We will give them support (funding), however, the final amount will depend on negotiations with MNCF, as the amount they have requested is substantial. "We have to look at our own allocations and make a decision which is suitable. "Don't forget that (overall) we are sending almost 900 athletes to the Sea Games to compete in 50 sports. That is a lot for the government to cover. "Thus, I hope all parties, including MNCF, will be patient." It is understood that TSG and MPC had requested RM250,000 each to prepare riders for the Sea Games. It is, however, unlikely they will get the full amount from NSC. MNCF secretary Arif Astaman said they have until Sept 1 to finalise their road squad for the Sea Games. "As of now, we have registered riders from both these professional teams, however, we have until Sept 1 to finalise the squad," said Arif. "I don't want to pre-empt the circumstances, give NSC the space to make a decision (regarding funding). "Hopefully, there will be a positive outcome. We have to remember that this is a medal defence, we have won the Sea Games (men's mass start road race) gold twice (2021 Hanoi, 2023 Phnom Penh) in a row now." The national road cycling team, with support from TSG and MPC's predecessor Team Sapura Cycling, has consistently delivered gold for Malaysia at the Sea Games over the past decade. Malaysia has won six gold medals in men's road cycling over the last five editions of the Sea Games.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
MAS downplays Sea Games medal chances as swimming revamp continues
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will once again be depending on Khiew Hoe Yean to deliver gold at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20) as it could take up to a decade to revamp Malaysian swimming, says the national body. Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) deputy president Marilyn Chua said besides Hoe Yean, Malaysia also has a podium shot in the men's 4 x 200m freestyle and women's 4 x 100m medley relays but admitted it will be tough to win gold in other individual events. Hoe Yean won the men's 200m freestyle gold at both the 2021 Hanoi and 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games. They were the only gold Malaysia won in swimming at both editions. The 22-year-old has been in record breaking form this season - he won silver at the World University Games in Berlin last month - and is expected to be a contender in both the 200m and 400m freestyle events in Thailand. "Hoe Yean is our key swimmer and we are definitely depending on him to win gold in Thailand but we are also hoping for some podium finishes in the relays," said Marilyn when met at the Sea Games selection committee meeting at Wisma OCM here today (Aug 12). "(Besides Hoe Yean) I would say it is going to be a challenge to win (other individual event) gold but we are definitely aiming for the podium. "The new (MAS) committee came on board two years ago but there is not much we can do with what we have right now. "With our new coaches, we are doing the best we can with this batch of swimmers. "We had to revamp and start (development) from scratch again. It is a long-term process which we hope will bear fruit within eight to 10 years. "The goal is to have greater strength in depth and not have to depend on just one swimmer to win gold for us." Malaysian swimming and diving have both suffered a significant decline in performance over the past decade. This prompted a change in leadership in 2023 which saw big names such as Marilyn, Nurul Huda Abdullah and Andy Low, among others, coming into the MAS committee with a goal of reviving Malaysian aquatic sports. They restructured the national programmes for both disciplines, appointing technical directors for both and also hired new foreign and local coaches to boost development of new talent. MAS will be sending a big contingent to the Thailand Sea Games which comprises 27 swimmers (11 category A, 16 category B), six divers ( 3 A, 3 B), 17 artistic swimmers (all B), 14 water polo players (all B) and five open water swimmers (all B). Category A athletes' competition expenses are covered by the government while category B athletes must pay out of their own pockets but will be reimbursed if they win a medal. MAS have opted to send mostly junior divers to Thailand. The six selected are Syafiq Puteh, Nurqayyum Nazim, Yong Rui Jie and Elvis Clement, Nur Eilisha Rania and Nurul Farisya Alia Affendi. A total of four gold medals will be on offer in diving at the Thailand Sea Games in the men's 3 metre springboard individual and synchronised, men's 1m springboard individual as well as the women's platform synchronised.
