NO LOFTY TARGET FOR JUNIOR RIDERS AT ASIAN YOUTH CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS - COACH

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- National back up squad coach Suod Hussain

wants his charges to give their best at the Asian Youth Cycling Championships at

the Kuala Lumpur Velodrome in Cheras from Feb 8 to 18.

He said no specific target would be set for the back squad that comprised

mainly students aged between 17 and 18.

"I am not setting a lofty target for them because I have not seen the

performance of young riders from cycling powerhouses Japan, Korea and Hong Kong

who will start as favourites in the competition organised by the Asian Cycling

Confederation (ACC)," he told Bernama today.

Suod said there are only four women riders in his squad, namely Lauretta Eva

Adrian, Ummi Hamimah Mohamad, Nurul Nadia Mohd Fauzi and Noor Azian Maslin

Sazali, due to the age limit for the championships.

"Only riders who are 17 or 18 are eligible to compete in the championships

and we will have two riders in the sprints and another two in the endurance

race)," he said.

Malaysia''s best chances of winning a medal would depend on the performance

of Mohd Arfy Qhairant Amran, winner of three medals, including a gold in the

men''s junior individual sprint in Korat, Thailand last year.

-- BERNAMA

MCYS MAM JRL