KUALA LUMPUR: All's well that ends well. Professional riders from Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) will be heading to the Thailand SEA Games in December.
The two UCI continental squads have accepted an improved funding offer from the National Sports Council (NSC), which was negotiated on their behalf by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, speaking in a press conference yesterday, said he was grateful that the two teams have agreed to continue their cooperation, as cycling has delivered three gold medals over the past two editions of the SEA Games (in Hanoi 2022 and in Phnom Penh 2023).
"Following harmonious negotiations with all parties involved, I am pleased to announce that we will have continued cooperation from TSG, MPC and other national team riders for the Thailand SEA Games.
"NSC have provided additional funding based on specific criteria and we thank them for their support and understanding.
"We believe this is the best combination of riders we have. It will boost our chances of defending our (road race) gold medal in Thailand."
TSG and MPC had threatened to pull riders out from the SEA Games last month if NSC did not meet their requests, which had been initially turned down.
The teams were disappointed as they have to spend a substantial amount of funds to prepare riders for the competition.
It is believed that TSG and MPC had requested RM250,000 each to prepare riders for the SEA Games.
They have, however, accepted a lower amount, which has not been disclosed, from NSC following further negotiations.
TSG chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus assured that his riders will give their full commitment.
"Most of the issues we had faced have been resolved amicably and although we have not received 100 per cent of what we asked for, we accept it and will give 100 per cent commitment," said Nasiruddin.
"As one of the oldest professional teams in Asia, we accept this responsibility."
The SEA Games road squad now have five TSG riders - Mohd Nur Aiman Zariff, Mohd Nur Aiman Rosli, Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki, Kee Zhe Yie and Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan.
The number of MPC riders now has been reduced from four to two - Syawal Mazlin and Zawawi Azman - while the two other riders in the squad are Police's Ameer Kamal and St George Continental's (Aus) Ren Bao Tsen.
Ameer has been brought in to boost Malaysia's hopes in the team time trial event as he was part of the line-up that won gold in the discipline at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
MNCF also announced that TSG's Saiful Anuar Aziz will be the head coach with Yusof Nasir as his assistant.
Yusof is currently the national development team head coach.
