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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Former TSG riders to lead Burgos-Burpellet BH in LTdL 2025
TWO former Terengganu Cycling Team riders will lead Spanish ProTeam Burgos-Burpellet BH in the upcoming Le Tour de Langkawi 2025. The team confirmed their participation for the fourth consecutive year, unveiling a strong six-rider lineup. Merhawi Kudus and Jambaljamts Sainbayar, both ex-TSG riders, will join last year's King of the Mountains winner, Mario Aparicio Munoz. The remaining three riders include David Martin, Georgios Bonglas, and Jose Manuel Diaz Gallego, all with prior LTdL experience. LTdL25 Chief Operating Officer Emir Abdul Jalal expects the team to compete for multiple titles in the eight-stage race. 'Burgos' strength lies in climbing stages, and with four climbers, their tactics will be exciting to watch,' he said. He added that their familiarity with Malaysian routes and weather conditions gives them an edge. Kudus, 31, gained recognition after joining MTN-Qhubeka in 2014, finishing second in LTdL that year. He later rode for WorldTeams Astana and EF Education, competing in Grand Tours like the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Sainbayar, also 31, is a proven climber who previously rode for TSG and finished ninth overall in LTdL 2022. The Mongolian national champion joined Burgos last year after multiple victories in Asian races. LTdL 2025 will span 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia, covering 1,243.5 kilometres. The race features 22 teams, including three WorldTeams, eight ProTeams, and one Malaysian national squad. It begins in Langkawi with a 96.5km stage, followed by routes like Padang Besar–Kepala Batas and Gerik–Pasir Puteh. The final stage will run from Tangkak to Kuala Lumpur, covering 180.5 kilometres. - Bernama
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
New RM800,000 pickleball, padel court for Kelana Jaya
The underutilised futsal court in SS7 is set to make way for new racquet sports facility. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star A FUTSAL court in SS7, Kelana Jaya in Selangor, will soon be transformed into an RM800,000 court for pickleball and padel, under a public-private partnership project by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the agreement allowed a private firm to construct and run the facility for 21 years. 'We have inked an agreement where the firm builds and manages the facility, while MBPJ will rent out the courts,' he said. MBPJ Zone 22 councillor Mohamed Hamka Mohamed Jumah said construction was expected to take four months. 'Once the fixtures and old concrete are removed, workers will use compacted gravel to create a new suitable surface,' he said. He added that the new racquet court would replace the underutilised futsal court. 'Work will be done quickly as youths are eager to use the court,' said Mohamed Hamka. 'Once construction is complete, the final steps will include court markings, installing nets and poles as well as setting up anti-glare lighting for optimal playing conditions,' he added. Pickleball is a cross between tennis, table-tennis and badminton, while padel is fast-paced and is often described as a mix between tennis and squash. Both sports can be played with either two or four players. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, when presenting the state's 2025 Budget, announced that pickleball would be introduced as a medal sport at the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
CEO: SIC eyes long-term expansion
Italy's Francesco Bagnaia from Ducati Team during free practice session at the Petronas Grand Prix Malaysia 2024 at Sepang International Circuit in Sepang. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: After weathering the financial strain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) is charting a new growth trajectory, anchored by land monetisation, strategic investments and expanded commercial offerings. SIC chief executive officer (CEO) Azhan Shafriman Hanif said the circuit is finalising a 10-year long-term business plan to unlock the commercial potential of its 303-ha landbank. 'We only fully utilise about 50% of the land during international events. The rest sits idle most of the year. We want to change that by bringing in investors to develop hotels, motorsport facilities, vehicle storage, attractions and food and beverage outlets,' he told Bernama in an interview recently. Azhan Shafriman, who took the helm in April 2020, said the early years of his leadership were marked by crisis management, as Covid-19 halted all large-scale events, which were the circuit's core revenue driver. In 2023, SIC turned profitable for the first time since the pandemic, with the return of international events like MotoGP. 'That year marked our turning point. In 2022, we had just six months to prepare for MotoGP after the borders reopened in April. But we pulled it off,' said Azhan Shafriman, noting that 2022 was his first MotoGP season since taking on his role as SIC's CEO Beyond motorsports, he envisions transforming Sepang into a lifestyle hub with improved amenities for both visitors and staff.
