LONDON, July 29 (Bernama) -- The failure of Malaysian cyclists to complete
the 250km road racing event at the London Olympic Games has provided room for
the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM) to re-evaluate its training
programme.
PKBM deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad, who admitted the programme for
road racers was rather behind compared to that for track, said the failure
showed the true capability of the national riders.
"Previously, there were plans to send them for training
with professional teams in Europe. After yesterday''s debacle, PKBM will study
the proposal seriously," he said here, today.
The two national racers who made Malaysia''s quota to the 2012 London
Olympics, Mohamad Adiq Husainie Othman and Amir Mustafa Rusli yesterday failed
to complete the 250km race around London.
Both the racers were asked to stop by the commisar after they were found to
be in a group of racers who were left 18 minutes behind the leaders of the race.
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OLIMPICS-CYCLING 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
The gold medal for the event was won by Kazakhstan racer Vinokurov Alexandr
in a time of five hours 45 minutes 57 seconds.
Naim, who is also team manager of Malaysia''s cycling contingent, said the
failure of both the racers was a blessing in disguise to other racers because
PKBM would surely want the road events to be on par with the track events, which
have produced champions like Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Josiah Ng and woman racer
Fatehah Mustafa.
"It is not too late to review the programme for the highway racers because
most of them are below 21. With the correct programme, we can also produce
highway event champions in three to four years," he said.
Among the names under focus would surely be overall champion at the National
Grand Prix Circuit Championship last year and winner of the bronze medal at the
2009 SEA Games in Laos, Mohd Zamri Salleh, who misssed the quota to the
Olympics.
The other road racers in contention, who are mostly from the Terengganu
Cycling Team, are Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi, Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan, Nur Amirull
Fakhruddin Mazuki and Mohd Zulhilmi Afif.
-- BERNAMA
ZAS AZ HA
