Cycle of excellence
Sime Darby to support six talents for Tokyo Olympics dream
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia wants more cyclists vying for medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
And with this in mind, Sime Darby Foundation (YSD) are committing RM2.6mil to support six young talents to achieve the goal.
Track cyclists Muhd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Mohd Fadhil Mohd Zonis, Mohd Khairil Nizam Rasol, Mohd Shariz Efendi Mohd Shahrin, Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan and Anis Amira Rosidi will ride under the Sime Darby Foundation Cycling Team from now until 31 Aug 2020.
Except for Anis, the others contributed medals at the recent KL SEA Games. Fadhil was a double gold medallist – in the 1km time trial and combining with Khairil and Shariz to win the men’s team sprint.
Farina partnered Fatehah Mustapa to secure the women’s team sprint gold medal.
World keirin champion Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah are funded by CIMB.
YSD chairman Tun Musa Hitam said they will continue to invest and support up-and-coming athletes to reach their full potential.
“I am pleased with their performances at the SEA Games where they accounted for three golds and five silver medals.
“We have sponsored Azizul and Fatehah under the Road to London 2012 and Road to Rio 2016 programmes. Fatehah made history as the first Malaysian woman cyclist to compete at the Olympics in London while Azizul clinched the nation’s first medal – a bronze – in the keirin in Rio last year.
“Under coach John Beasley, we believe these youngsters aged from 19 to 22 have the potential to become world-class cyclists and qualify for the next Olympics.”
Beasley was thankful for the support and said the back-up cyclists will join Azizul and Fatehah in races that will allow them to earn points and qualify for the World Cup, World Championships and ultimately the Olympics.
“The main objective is to win our first Olympic gold medal with Azizul but I also want to see others making the cut.
“It’s always tough to make the Olympics as you got to be among the top two in Asia.
“If we can qualify in the men’s and women’s team sprint, we will have two extra spots for the keirin and sprint.
“Shah Firdaus missed out in the World Track Cycling Championships keirin final (in Hong Kong in March) by just a couple of millimetres and I believe he will be up there by the time Tokyo comes,” said the Australian.