SEA GAMES: MISSION FOR GOLD REMAINS ON TRACK DESPITE ABSENCE OF SHAH FIRDAUS - COACH

NILAI, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The national track cycling squad's gold medal hunt at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December will remain on track despite the absence of top rider Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, who has been sidelined following a recent surgery on his right knee.

National track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri said the squad’s main hopes are now placed on Muhammad Shah Firdaus’ younger brother, Muhammad Ridwan, in addition to Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis and Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena, to fuel the dream of winning gold in the men's keirin and men's team sprint events.

"Shah Firdaus just underwent surgery at a private hospital two weeks ago and is expected to start light training in another two weeks.

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"I can confidently say there isn't much change (to the gold target) because our team is well-known in the Southeast Asian region," he told reporters after receiving a visit from the 2025 SEA Games Chef-de-Mission, Nurul Huda Abdullah, at the National Velodrome of Malaysia here, today.

Harnizam said the injury suffered by Muhammad Shah Firdaus actually occurred when he was involved in an accident during the men's keirin final at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was still experiencing pain when competing at the 2025 Asian Track Cycling Championships here last February.

"We feel the injury originated after the fall during the 2024 Olympics which impacted his right knee. After a diagnosis, a fracture was detected in the knee cartilage area," he said.

The 30-year-old rider's dream of winning a Paris 2024 medal almost became a reality when he was in third place with about 25 meters remaining in the race, but it shattered after he was hit by Japanese rider Shinji Nakano, causing both him and Great Britain rider Jack Carlin to fall.

Despite sustaining minor injuries after being dragged for several meters, the rider nicknamed 'The Terminator' still got up and pushed his bicycle across the finish line, ending the race in fourth place before being relegated to sixth place for entering Shinji's lane.

Meanwhile, Harnizam said his squad will undergo a month-long training camp in Chiang Mai next month before heading to the Hua Mark Velodrome in Bangkok for the 2025 SEA Games.

Considering that the venue is not covered by a roof, he said his team is arranging a training session at the Cheras Velodrome in Kuala Lumpur to help his riders adapt to the competition atmosphere of the biennial multi-sport event.

The 2025 Thailand SEA Games is scheduled to take place from December 9 to 20, involving three provinces: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla.

-- BERNAMA