Latest news with #SayutiZahit
New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Cycling coach hopes for peace ahead of Thailand Sea Games
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) team principal Sayuti Zahit hopes Thailand and Cambodia will resolve their differences amicably before the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). Thai and Cambodian forces clashed for five days across their border, killing at least 36 people and displacing over 200,000, before both sides agreed to an unconditional ceasefire yesterday (July 27). Sayuti said the Thailand Sea Games mass start road race route could be affected if the conflict reignites as the finish line at the Khao Yai National Park is less than 190 kilometres from the Thailand-Cambodia border. The start for the individual and team time trials in Prachin Buri is roughly 160km from the border. Sayuti had co-coached the Malaysian national road cycling team during the last two editions of the Sea Games in Hanoi (2021) and Phnom Penh (2023). He is expected to reprise the role for the Thailand Sea Games. A total of four MPC riders have been shortlisted for the Thailand Sea Games squad. "We really hope that both Thailand and Cambodia will settle their differences amicably in the spirit of Southeast Asian (Asean) brotherhood," said Sayuti when contacted today (July 29). "This is the first time we (MPC) have encountered such a situation and it is a bit worrying for us because the routes are not really that far from the border. "Ultimately, the safety of our riders and staff remains our absolute priority and we will continue to monitor the situation. "We will follow any directives issued by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) or the government ahead of the Sea Games." Cambodia had hosted the previous edition of the Sea Games in 2023. The Sea Games is a biennial multi-sport competition intended to provide athletes from Asean nations a platform to showcase their skills and boost camaraderie among athletes from Asean countries.
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Yusof makes road clear for Sayuti to guide cyclists at SEA Games
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's road cycling coach Mohd Yusof Nasir is ready to make way for Sayuti Zahit to take over the reins of the national team for the SEA Games in Thailand in December. Sayuti, who is the sporting director of continental team Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC), has been offered the role but has yet to confirm his decision.
The Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Sayuti will only accept cycling coaching job if his requests are met
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Pro Cycling sports director Sayuti Zahit has yet to decide whether to accept the role of national cycling coach for the SEA Games in Thailand this December. This is because his decision hinges on whether the National Sports Council (NSC) will meet his requests.
New Straits Times
7 days 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."
