Latest news with #Harrif
New Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Harrif scores 'confidence boosting' podium finish in China
KUALA LUMPUR: Road cycling great Harrif Saleh proved that he is coming into form nicely ahead of next week's National Road Cycling Championships after scoring his third podium finish of the season in China today (May 21). Harrif, competing for Sunrimoon Armed Forces (SAF), came in a close second in the fourth and penultimate stage of the Along the Yellow River International in Zhengzhou. Estonian Martin Laas took the win 51 minutes and six seconds (40 kilometres) while Latvian Kristians Belohvosciks came in third in the bunch sprint. Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) sprinter Ahmad Syazrin Awang Ilah, who won Tuesday's third stage, found himself caught out in the final km and was forced to settle for 16th today. Harrif, who usually races for Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), is also a Navy personnel and occasionally races for the Armed Forces team. The 37-year-old said the Yellow River International is part of his preparations for upcoming races this season. "My teammates helped me get into a good position in the final KM. I had a good fight with Laas but in the end got second place," said Harrif. "It was a decent result as this tour is part of my preparations for the National Championships (road) in Johor next week (May 29-June 1) as well as the Tour of Gyeongnam (June 4-8) in two weeks. "This race is not only important for me to improve my performances but to also increase my confidence levels. I will give it everything I have in the final stage tomorrow." Harrif had earlier this season scored podium finishes at the International Alanya Castle Criterium (Turkiye, February) as well as the Tour of Thailand (March). Meanwhile, TSG continued their good form in the Tour of Japan, scoring a podium finish in today's third stage from Mino to Kamino (137.3km) through their Indonesian rider Aiman Cahyadi. Aisan Racing Team's Rui Udagawa took the win in 3:09:35s with Aiman coming in a close second. Rembe Rad-Net's Jon Knolle came in third in the same group. TSG's Mathias Bregnhoj is currently second in the general classification, 16s adrift of JCL Team Ukyo's Alessandro Fancellu. Utsonomiya Blitzen's Atsushi Oka (+33s) is third overall.
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
No place for veteran Harrif in Sea Games cycling team
KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran cyclist Harrif Saleh's hopes of competing at the Thailand Sea Games on Dec 9-20 are over. National track endurance coach Amir Mustafa Rusli revealed that the President's Cup Series, held in February, served as the selection meet for the Sea Games, and unfortunately, Harrif did not make the cut. He added that all cyclists were well informed of the qualification criteria, and the selected riders are now focused on delivering results at the biennial Games. "The selection criteria were set by a panel, including national cycling programme technical director John Beasley, and athletes were picked based on their performances at the President's Cup. It was a fair process for everyone," said Amir. "Thailand, as hosts, have only listed two track endurance events — the team pursuit and points race. These events aren't suitable for Harrif, who finished well below the other Malaysian riders in these disciplines during the President's Cup Series." "It's good that Harrif still wants to contribute to the national team, and we appreciate his enthusiasm. "But we also have to be fair to the other riders who have been selected. We've picked the best-performing athletes, and they are now training for the Sea Games." The current national track endurance line-up includes Lau New Joe and Hafiq Jafri, Abdul Azim Aliyas and Yusri Shaari. Azim won silver in the scratch race at the International Track Cup in Hong Kong in April, while the other riders made the finals of their respective events. Track cycling is not a fixed event in the Sea Games programme. The last time it was held, Harrif, now 37, won gold in the scratch race at the 2011 Indonesia Sea Games, while Irwandie Lakasek clinched gold at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.
