Beasley with Malaysia until 2020 Olympics

NATIONAL head coach John Beasley has committed himself to the national cycling team until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Despite receiving offers from other countries, Beasley stressed that he still has unfinished business to settle in Malaysia.

"I will stay for as long as I am needed. When Malaysia do not need me any more, I will leave," said Beasley, when met at the Sime Darby Foundation (SDF) press conference yesterday.

"At the moment there is still much work to be done. I want to build a strong cycling foundation in Malaysia and we have not achieved that yet."

Beasley's contract is set to run out at the end of the year.

"I am not thinking about it (contract), I am committed (to Malaysia). A coach is judged by the performance of the athletes under his care and I have always given my best.

"It is important to not only develop good cyclists but also individuals who can contribute to the country.”

Beasley added that he is proud that the coaches he has developed, such as Junaidi Mohd Nasir, are already capable of handling the team.

"You could see at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, they (coaches developed by Beasley) were the ones guiding the riders. I was just helping in the background.

"I am very proud of our coaches, they have been handling the team in a very organised manner."

Beasley has been coaching the national team since 2006 with big names such as Azizulhasni Awang, Fatehah Mustapa, Rizal Tisin and Josian Ng among those under his care.

Azizulhasni's Olympic bronze and World Championship triumph are the highlights of his career in Malaysia so far. Azlan Muhammad Zain