MOHD FADHIL'S SUCCESS SPARKS NEW KEIRIN HOPE FOR MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Mohd Fadhil Zonis' success in winning the second series of the ASEAN Track Series (President's Cup) has convinced the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) that Malaysia will have two great keirin riders.

MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh was proud with Mohd Fadhil's outstanding success in ending a four-year drought in the keirin event.

Amarjit, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI), is optimistic that Malaysia is on the right track to once again have two keirin riders who are capable of creating success on the international stage at any time.

"Previously, Malaysia had Josiah (Ng) and Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni (Awang). They were successful at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio (De Janeiro) and the 2020 Olympic Games (Tokyo, Japan).

"After that, Malaysia's strong combination continued with Datuk Azizulhasni and Mohd Shah Firdaus (Sahrom). They have achieved many successes while racing together. Shah also advanced to the keirin event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris (France).

“So after Datuk Azizulhasni ‘retired’, I was looking for the latest combination. With the latest success created by Mohd Fadhil, I am confident that Malaysia will once again have two great keirin riders,” he said in an MNCF statement today.

Amarjit, who is also the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) vice-president, also praised Nurul Izzah Izati Mohd Asri’s performance in the first and second series of the ASEAN Track Series (President’s Cup).

“The same goes for Nurul Izzah Izati. Even though she was unable to give MNCF a double success, I commend her determination. She emerged champion in Series 1 and managed to win a silver medal in Series 2.

“Nonetheless, we are also seeing a new light in the national women’s camp. Nur Alyssa (Mohd Farid) managed to compete with Nurul Izzah Izati and the Korean rider (Kim Haeun),” he said.

At the same time, Amarjit, who is also the secretary-general of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), also praised the country's cyclists for bravely taking on the challenge, making the recently concluded championship a field to hunt for points offered in the UCI calendar.

He hoped that the success would continue at the 2025 Asian Cycling Championships (ACC 2025) which will be held at the National Velodrome in Bandar Baru Nilai, Negeri Sembilan from Feb 21-27.

-- BERNAMA