Latest news with #ThailandSeaGames
New Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Keirin fate hangs in the balance ahead of September 1 deadline
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian track cyclists will have to wait until early September before knowing whether the men's keirin, team sprint and team pursuit events will be included at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). September 1 is the deadline for rider registration for the games and each event needs to have riders from at least four nations registered to be able to run. An event will be scrapped if there are less than four nations competing. Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) secretary Arif Astaman admitted that the national body is waiting "with bated breath". "At the moment, the fate of these events still hangs in the balance," said Arif when contacted recently. "On a positive note, these events are included in the technical handbook for the games, but whether they will actually be held depends on the registration numbers. "We have been engaging our regional counterparts (to encourage participation in these events). "(Verbally) their response has been positive but there is no guarantee they will actually register their riders. "We have a good chance of winning gold in these events so we are definitely waiting for September 1 with bated breath." MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill had earlier in May said the three events are at risk of being scrapped due to a lack of interest from other nations. While road cycling is included in every edition of the Sea Games, track cycling is often left out as many Southeast Asian countries do not have suitable velodromes. Malaysia has world class track sprint riders in both the men's and women's and categories and events such as the keirin, individual sprint and team sprint events are essentially goldmines for Malaysia when they are held at the Sea Games. As a result, other Southeast Asian countries have been reluctant to compete in these events.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
TSG: We can't share our time trial bikes
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) confirmed they have time trial bikes which they can use if their riders compete for the country at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). They, however, cannot lend the bikes to non-TSG riders in the national squad, said TSG chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus. This is due to contractual obligations the UCI continental team has with its sponsors. "We don't know which riders will be called up for the Sea Games yet," said Nasiruddin recently. "We do have time trial bikes but they are only for our riders. "Our sponsors provided us with the bikes for our riders to use. We cannot share them with other riders (from other teams) called up to the national team. "And these bikes have specific sizes, so sharing them is not that simple." The National Sports Council (NSC) earlier this month asked the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) to choose between sending TSG or Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) riders to the Sea Games. NSC added that TSG is already equipped with time trial bikes and thus does not require additional funding to purchase new time trial bikes. MNCF, however, insisted they will select the most in-form riders to represent Malaysia at the Sea Games, regardless of which team they are from. The individual and team time trial events are seen as Malaysia's best bet to win gold in men's road cycling at the Sea Games this year. This is because hosts Thailand have opted to include steep climbs in the mass start road race to boost their own riders' chances of winning gold.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Team captain optimistic after Davis Cup success
KUALA LUMPUR: Davis Cup captain Adam Jaya believes his charges' strong performances in the Asia-Oceania Group IV competition which concluded on Saturday (July 19) bodes well for Malaysia's hopes in upcoming competitions. Malaysia topped Pool A in the competition after routing Nepal, Iraq and Kyrgyzstan - beating them all 3-0 - before downing Qatar 2-0 in the promotional playoff at the National Tennis Centre here on Saturday to secure promotion to Group III next year. Promotion was a relief for both Malaysian fans as well as the national body, Tennis Malaysia (TM). The squad was relegated from Group III last year. Malaysia had never competed in Group IV, which is the second lowest tier, prior to this. National team head coach Muliyadi Jamal opted to field a relatively young squad this year, featuring Darrshan Kumar, 18, Daniel Prickett (20), Leroy Yong (21), Naufal Kamaruzzaman (23) and Koay Hao Sheng (26). They dropped only one set throughout the whole competition. Adam hopes the players can continue their fine form at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20) as well as next year's Davis Cup. "Now that the job (promotion) is done, I believe we have a good group of players ahead of the Sea Games," said Adam yesterday (July 19). "We have the momentum now. I hope the players will continue to train and also compete in tournaments to maintain their form. "With this group of players, as well as a few who are not here, I believe we can be competitive at the Sea Games as well as in (Davis Cup) Group III next season. "We have been playing in Group III for many years so we know what it takes to stay there or to win it. We have the experience. "We, however, need to make sure our best players are available as Group III is an even tougher competition (compared to Group IV)." Southeast Asian heavyweights Thailand and Indonesia competed in Group III this year alongside Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, Syria, Jordan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. National team stalwart Hao Sheng was dependable as always, winning all four of his matches for Malaysia in Group IV this year despite feeling ill during his match against Kyrgyzstan's Mirgiiaz Mirdzhaliev. Darrshan was arguably the most outstanding player among the younger players in the squad, displaying outstanding court coverage, variety of shots and a solid serve which belies his diminutive physique. He thumped Iraq's Akam Bakr 6-1, 6-1 during the group stage before securing promotion for Malaysia with a decisive 6-3, 6-1 win over Qatar's Mossa Alharrasi. "He moves very well, this is his weapon but Darrshan also has good variety in his shots which are also quite powerful, this surprised many of his opponents," said Adam. "For a smaller player, he also has a very good serve." Darrshan will be leaving for the United States later next month to join the University of North Dakota where he will study biomedical engineering and play collegiate tennis. University of North Dakota is an NCAA division one school. Adam, who is also a former national coach, added that he is prepared to continue in his role as Davis Cup team captain next season. "Tennis has always been my passion and my love for the game will always remain the same," said Adam. "If I am offered the role of team captain, I will definitely accept it. My schedule is quite busy as I also have a business to manage but I will definitely find a way if my country needs me."
New Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sea Games selection based on merit, not team colours, says MNCF
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) has assured fans that they will only select the most qualified riders, regardless of which team they are from, to represent Malaysia at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). MNCF secretary Arif Astaman said the national body will be assessing riders based on their performances in recent seasons, in line with Sea Games selection standards laid out by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Jefri Ngadirin had on Monday (July 14) directed MNCF to choose between sending Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) or Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) riders to represent Malaysia at the Sea Games. TSG and MPC are Malaysia's top professional cycling teams. "We are aware of what the director-general has said. We will, however, be selecting riders based on their recent performances, ranking and suitability with the course that will be used," said Arif when contacted today (July 15). "If all the riders who meet the selection criteria are from the same team, then so be it. "We, however, will not say that we will only be taking riders from TSG and that riders from other teams do not have a chance. "Doing that would be akin to shooting ourselves in the foot. We want riders who are in form, we don't care which team they are from. "At the end of the day, it is our responsibility to send the best team possible to defend our gold medal." NSC's directive was seen as a peculiar move as Malaysia has over the past two editions combined riders from both teams to positive effect, winning back-to-back gold in the mass start road race through TSG riders Nur Aiman Zariff (Hanoi 2021) and Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (2023 Phnom Penh). Arif added that MNCF will begin the selection process soon as they have to submit the final squad registration to OCM by Sep 1. "I will be meeting with our (new) technical director John Beasley soon to discuss the selection process," he said. "With John as director we are introducing a new, more data-driven and performance-based approach when it comes to selection of riders. "We will use this as a benchmark on top of the assessment from the coaches as well as data from the National Sports Institute." MPC last week expressed their disappointment with NSC after requests made via MNCF for additional funding - including a request to purchase new time trial bikes - for the Sea Games were turned down outright by NSC. MPC team principal Sayuti Zahit said Malaysia needs the new time trial bikes, which cost roughly RM80,000 each, to compete on a level playing field with fellow contenders in the event such as Thailand and the Philippines. Sayuti confirmed that MPC will withdraw their riders from the Sea Games squad if they do not receive any positive news from NSC by next month. NSC said they had already allocated RM300,000 to MNCF to prepare the road squad for the Sea Games at the start of the year. MNCF last week disclosed that only RM196,000 of the allocation remains after expenses incurred to prepare and send riders to the Asian Championships in Thailand earlier this year. Malaysia has won six gold medals in road cycling at the last five editions of the Sea Games.
New Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Choose which pro team to send to the Sea Games, NSC tells MNCF
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council (NSC), in a bizarre move, has asked the Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) to choose which professional cycling team it wants to represent the country at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20). NSC has told MNCF to choose between sending Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) - the country's only two UCI continental sides - to the competition. It is a peculiar decision as Malaysia has over the past two editions combined riders from both teams to great effect, winning gold in the mass start road race through TSG riders Nur Aiman Zariff (Hanoi 2021) and Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (2023 Phnom Penh) thanks to backing from other TSG and MPC riders. NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin said the agency has already allocated RM300,000 to MNCF to prepare a team for the biennial games. "We have discussed preparations for the Thailand Sea Games with MNCF during a workshop on Jan 16 and both parties agreed that the national team will be comprised of pro riders," said Jefri today (July 16 "It is, however, up to MNCF to choose which team, either TSG or MPC, to send to the Sea Games. "NSC has already channeled a portion of the RM300,000 allocated for Sea Games preparations to MNCF and thus, I believe there should not be any issue about preparations for the teams not being done adequately." MNCF last week disclosed that only RM196,000 of the allocation remains after expenses incurred to prepare and send riders to the Asian Championships in Thailand earlier this year. MPC last week expressed their disappointment with NSC after requests made via MNCF for additional funding - including a request to purchase new time trial bikes - for the Sea Games were turned down outright by NSC during a recent meeting with the MNCF road committee. MPC team principal Sayuti Zahit said Malaysia needs the new time trial bikes to compete on a level playing field with fellow contenders in the event such as Thailand and the Philippines. Sayuti said MPC will withdraw their riders from the Sea Games squad if they do not receive any positive news from NSC by next month. "MNCF have made a number of requests, including requests to purchase new bikes," said Jefri. "However, if they do choose TSG as the main team, they (TSG) already have all the equipment (needed). Thus it depends on which party MNCF chooses. "We have discussed this with MNCF a number of times, thus, statements about withdrawing from the games should not be made. "If they (MNCF) have other plans, they can come and sit down with NSC again to discuss and we can go over what other requirements they need for the Sea Games." Malaysia has won six gold medals in road cycling at the Sea Games over the past five editions (2015-2023). Prior to that, Malaysian cycling had suffered a 10-year gold drought at the Sea Games (2005-2015). Meanwhile, MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill assured that they will send a team to defend Malaysia's gold medal at the Thailand Sea Games. Amarjit stressed that he is willing to mediate between the parties involved. "The men's squad will defend the mass start road race gold they won in Cambodia, this is for certain. I will go to the ground to make it happen," said Amarjit in a statement released today. "I am prepared to personally meet with any party who is not satisfied with NSC. MNCF has a positive relationship with NSC.
