AZIZULHASNI, JOSIAH RARING BACK HOME FOR ASIAN CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- National track cyclists, Azizulhasni Awang

and Josiah Ng have returned home to strengthen the national squad in the Asian

Cycling Championship 2012 which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome,

Cheras from Feb 7-8.

The presence of the two leading racers is expected to assist the

national squad in checking the domination of racers from Japan, South Korea and

China.

ACC Organising Committee chairman, Abu Samah Wahab said Azizulhasni and

Josiah would give stiff competition to riders like Zhang Miao and Zhang Lei

(China), Kazunari Watanabe (Japan) and Dong Jin Kang (Korea Selatan).

"I have been informed by chief coach John Beasley that Azizulhasni and

Josiah would be fielded to ensure we collect as many London Olympic qualifying

points offered by the championship.

"John Beasley and the training programme advisor, Graham Seers have

discussed with me on what we are targeting in this championship," Abu Samah, who

is also the president of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation said in a

statement here today.

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SPORTS-TRACK CYCLING 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

Abu Samah said even though the initial rider list had not been issued, South

Korea looked set to be an Asian cycling power house as its squad arrived

yesterday with 10 racers.

"The South Korean team will also be the first foreign team to test the Kuala

Lumpur Velodrome after its upgrade apart from Qatar and Japan whose teams arrive

tomorrow to acclimatise themselves before the ACC 2012 begins," he said.

The Malaysian cycling team recorded sensational successes in the two ACC

championships in 2011 delivering 15 medals including five gold in Korat,

Thailand and 10 medals in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

On the team highway event in the 2012 ACC, Abu Samah said it would be up to

Beasley and highway squad coach, Syed Mohd Hussain Syed Mazlan to select the

riders.

Malaysia have already qualified on merit for the London Olympic highway

event with Japan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

-- BERNAMA

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