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KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The worsening haze condition, especially in the southern states, would not affect the Tour of Malaysia (JIM) said the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). "The conditions may change according to the wind conditions. I hope the race will go on as the situation is not very serious to affect the race. This is the first time we are facing such a situation. "In the past we have experienced bad weather (rain) and floods but managed to overcome such situations without disrupting the race. So, I am confident the haze situation will clear before the race and not disrupt the race," said MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad. Naim who is also the Chief Operating Officer for the JIM 2013, Commissar in Chief and technical delegate said at least 24 hours was needed to study the weather condition and recce an alternative route if needed. The JIM 2013 is scheduled from June 26 to 30, will pass through Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Mela...

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said an international standard covered velodrome proposed to be built in Seremban, would be ready before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2016. He said the size of the covered velodrome need not be too big but it must be complete and meet international standards, as well as function as a regional cycling development centre. "It is important the velodrome be expedited. We want it to be the training centre for our cyclists preparing for the Rio Olympic Games. "With the velodrome, Malaysia would be able to organise the largest championships in the world. "It would put the nation's name as a landmark in cycling at international level," he said here Tuesday.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 2 (Bernama) - National cyclist Anuar Manan aims to do well at Le Tour de Langkawi (LTDL) 2013 scheduled for February 20 to March 2 next year. The rider from Hong Kong-based HK Champion System said he will try to reclaim the sprint king title won at LTDL 2011 and win more stages of the championship. "I have just finished competing in a cycling championship in China. It serves as part of my preparation for LTDL and other championships." The 26-year-old rider's best achievement at LTDL this year was third at the third stage from Malacca to Parit Sulong. -- BERNAMA

TIDAK keterlaluan jika dikatakan temasya Sukan SEA yang bakal berlangsung di Indonesia, November depan sebagai ‘lubuk emas’ untuk skuad berbasikal negara. Kali ini, lebih 20 pingat emas ditawarkan menerusi empat disiplin iaitu trek, lebuh raya, basikal bukit dan BMX. Secara tradisinya, skuad berbasikal adalah antara penyumbang terpenting kutipan pingat keseluruhan kepada kontinjen Malaysia. Sebagai rekod, pada temasya Sukan SEA 2005 di Manila, Filipina, skuad berbasikal negara menyumbang empat pingat emas, dua perak dan satu gangsa. Dua tahun kemudian di Korat, Thailand, mereka membawa pulang empat emas, lima gangsa dan empat perak. Pada temasya 2009 di Vientianne, Laos, skuad berbasikal negara gagal meraih emas, sebaliknya mereka memperoleh satu perak dan dua gangsa. Pada temasya kali ini, skuad berbasikal negara sekali lagi disandarkan harapan untuk menuai sekurang-kurangnya lima pingat emas. Kepada wartawan Kosmo!, AZIZUL FAHMI AHMAD ZABIDI, Pre...

KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu track cyclist Ummi Hamimah is small in stature but the clear-headed lass is ready to chase down a big goal. The 16-year-old, fresh from a three-gold achievement in Sukma, is eyeing qualification for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics as she clings to the words of encouragement from fellow Dungun-born rider Azizulhasni Awang. Ummi, who only started cycling competitively less than two years ago, met Azizul when he returned home earlier this year to officiate the ground-breaking of a new velodrome in Dungun. “His advice was not to be afraid to aim for the top and to be confident of our own ability,” she said. “In many ways, we are similar. I am young and starting out in this sport but I always knew what I wanted to do all this while – to be a cyclist. But my family only allowed me to join the Dungun district cycling club after I finished my PMR exams.” Ummi was also initially coached by Rozimi Omar, who first guided Azizul when he started riding c...

CHRISTIAN antara pelumba yang akan mengetuai cabaran pasukan Garmin-Slipstream Pro Cycling Team pada LTdL 2009. PASUKAN Garmin-Chipotle kembali dengan nama baru, Garmin-Slipstream Pro Cycling Team. Kehadiran mereka akan menambahkan lagi saingan pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2009 yang dijadualkan bermula pada 9 hingga 15 Februari ini. Pasukan dari Amerika Syarikat itu adalah antara 19 pasukan yang akan menyerikan LTdL 2009. Kali terakhir pasukan tersebut beraksi pada jelajah paling berprestij di Asia yang berstatus Hors itu ialah pada tahun 2007. "Dua tahun lalu, kami adalah penganjur pertama yang mengundang Slipstream (yang kini dikenali sebagai Garmin-Slipstream) menyertai acara berstatus Hors ini kerana kami berpendapat pasukan ini mempunyai masa depan yang cerah dan kami gembira mereka berminat untuk kembali tahun ini. "Kami gembira apabila Garmin-Slipstream kini diakui sebagai salah satu pasukan paling kompetitif di dunia khususnya pada ...

bharian.com.my AZIZULHASNI lakar sejarah pelumba pertama negara memenangi pingat emas acara keirin. Mahu ulangi kejutan pada Piala Dunia di Melbourne, November lalu JAGUH muda negara, Azizulhasni Awang akan cuba untuk sekali lagi mencipta gemilang ketika dia dan rakan sepasukan sudah bersedia untuk menghadapi cabaran getir di Kejohanan Trek Piala Dunia di Beijing, China bermula Jumaat ini. Dan tiada apa yang dimahukan pelumba yang genap berusia 21 tahun pada 5 Januari lalu itu selain sekali lagi bergelar juara seperti kejutan diciptanya pada Piala Dunia di Melbourne, November lalu. Ketika itu, pelumba berasal dari Dungun, Terengganu itu melakar sejarah muncul pelumba pertama negara memenangi pingat emas acara keirin, sesuatu yang mengesahkan Malaysia sebagai antara pencabar utama pada kejohanan kali ini. “Saya harap semuanya berjalan lancar ketika perlumbaan nanti, sasaran saya nak cuba dapatkan lagi emas dalam acara keirin, jik...

SWISS coach Jacques Jolidon yesterday claimed his lawyers would, by the end of this week, be pursuing legal action against the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) over his claims for a job as head coach. In stating there would be no further comments from him after this, Jolidon said he would also be seeking damages, apart from reimbursement of more than RM75,000 in expenses that he had made previously. "The money requested on procedure will be much, much more than what I ask now, for a fair solution to the damages made to me and my family," said Jolidon in an e-mail to Timesport. In that e-mail, Jolidon also attached a word document which contained excerpts of e-mails between himself and three MNCF officials -- president Abu Samah Wahab, assistant treasurer Yunus Ibrahim and council member Omar Saad. These excerpts were made available upon a previous request, as the basis of Jolidon's allegations are about his claims that he had received confirmation...

By LIM TEIK HUAT PETALING JAYA: The exploits of Malaysia’s Azizul Hasni Awang on the international track cycling scene have not gone unnoticed. Having climbed to the top spot of the keirin world rankings last month, Azizul has been offered to ride for a professional trade team in the third-leg of the UCI Track World Cup in Beijing next week. Azizul will make his racing debut with the Australian-based BT (Bike Technologies) outfit and he is looking forward to charting yet another breakthrough in his brief but phenomenal career. Riding high: Azizul Hasni Awang aims to chart another breakthrough with Australianbased BT (Bike Technologies). It was in 2006 that Azizul first showed promise of becoming a top sprint rider when he bagged three gold medals in the junior ranks of the Asian Championships. He was roped into the senior squad and duly delivered the keirin gold in the Asian meet the following year. Azizul not only defended the title for Malaysia but added anothe...

ANUAR mahu mencipta kejutan pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2009 Februari depan. RAJA pecut negara, Anuar Manan memiliki dua misi pada Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2009 yang dijadualkan berlangsung pada 9 hingga 15 Februari depan. Misi pertamanya ialah untuk mengharumkan nama negara menerusi penyertaan sulung bersama skuad kebangsaan pada perlumbaan berprestij itu. Keduanya, pelumba kelahiran Kuala Ibai, Terengganu itu mahu memperbaiki pencapaian pada perlumbaan LTdL 2008 lalu. Pada perlumbaan itu, Anuar mencipta sejarah apabila menjadi pelumba tempatan pertama berjaya menyarung jersi Raja Pecut pada perlumbaan peringkat ketiga dan keempat. "Harapan saya sekarang ialah untuk mengatasi pencapaian saya pada LTdL 2008 setelah hanya menyarung jersi Raja Pecut pada dua peringkat sahaja," katanya. Pelumba berusia 22 tahun itu kini giat menjalani latihan di bawah kendalian jurulatih, Jamaludin Omar dan mereka baru pulang daripa...

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- National cyclist Anuar Manan, competing in the 2009 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTDL) with the national team for the first time, hopes to make a bigger impact than last year. Anuar, winner of the blue jersey (Sprint) at two stages in the 2008 LTDL, representing Le Tua cycling team, joined the national team last month and has since been training together with his new team-mates under coach Jamaluddin Omar. "I and my former team-mate Ahmad Haidar Anuawar are together in the team and we are getting acquainted with the rest of the team members. My main aim is to do better than the two stage wins," said the cyclist from Kuala Ibai, Terengganu. In the 13th edition held early this year, Anuar, 22, created history by becoming the first Malaysian to wear the Blue jersey for the third and fourth stages after winning the Sprint stages. Anuar who has since emerged as the most prominent sprinter in Asia, clinched the overall Sprints Classification title at th...

Track cyclist continues to produce results PETALING JAYA: The young riders are making inroads for Malaysia but track cyclist Josiah Ng is not ready to give up his turf yet as indicated with his performance in Melbourne last week. Josiah caused a major upset by winning the Melbourne Cup on Wheels at the Hisense Arena to become the first non-Australian winner in the event’s 72-year history. He got the better of two-time Olympic gold medallist Graeme Brown, who finished second for the consecutive year. Another Australian, Michael Downing, finished third. The Melbourne Cup on Wheels is one of Australia’s biggest track cycling events and the winner is decided over a series of heats, culminating with a 2,000m eight-lap race. A powerhouse: Josiah showed that he still has a lot left in him by winning the prestigious Melboune Cup. For Josiah, earning his place in Australian cycling history in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,000 could not have come at a better time. Josiah also ...

Azizul Hasni Awang THE journey of an explosive pint-sized warrior from Dungun, Terengganu, captured the Malaysian cycling fraternity’s imagination this year, more than anything else. Rizal Tisin Anuar Manan For once, thanks mainly to Azizul Hasni Awang and his new generation of fighters, there is belief, there is confidence and Malaysia dares to dream big in cycling. All that meant more to the sport than being indicted as one of the 19 core sports and reason to believe that more could come as the sport is one of three to receive full government backing towards the 2012 London Olympics. Azizul spoke the loudest for Malaysian cycling this year in repeating his Asian Championships keirin gold medal in Bangkok last year, then adding the 200m sprint gold to that in this year’s championships in Nara, Japan in April. Malaysia completed a sweep of individual sprint event gold medals, when Rizal Tisin bagged his second ever Asian title by taking the 1km time trial gold med...

Azizul will be trying to pry the World Cup leader’s jersey away from France’s Francois Pervis. IT isn't about getting there, but about staying at the top when you get there. And that is exactly what runs through the mind of new World No 1 keirin rider Azizul Hasni Awang after being confirmed at those heights in the latest world rankings released on Monday. "Now, it is about maintaining that position and trying to get hold of the World Cup leader's jersey, which is something difficult, given our programme, but achievable. That is my target," said Azizul, when contacted in Melbourne yesterday. Azizul sits atop the ranking with 570 points, 50 more than Francois Pervis of France, while triple Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy of Britain is third, yet to start his new season. Pervis is the current UCI World Cup keirin leader's jersey holder. The pint-sized Azizul is also the first Malaysian since Josiah Ng in 2005 to attain World No 1 status in the kei...

Azizul will be trying to pry the World Cup leader’s jersey away from France’s Francois Pervis. IT isn't about getting there, but about staying at the top when you get there. And that is exactly what runs through the mind of new World No 1 keirin rider Azizul Hasni Awang after being confirmed at those heights in the latest world rankings released on Monday. "Now, it is about maintaining that position and trying to get hold of the World Cup leader's jersey, which is something difficult, given our programme, but achievable. That is my target," said Azizul, when contacted in Melbourne yesterday. Azizul sits atop the ranking with 570 points, 50 more than Francois Pervis of France, while triple Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy of Britain is third, yet to start his new season. Pervis is the current UCI World Cup keirin leader's jersey holder. The pint-sized Azizul is also the first Malaysian since Josiah Ng in 2005 to attain World No 1 status in the kei...

Uji prestasi selepas berlatih sebulan PELUMBA trek negara, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang tidak mahu terbawa-bawa dengan kejayaannya pada Grand Prix Perth minggu lalu malah mengambil sikap berhati-hati menjelang Kejuaraan Berbasikal Piala Dunia di Melbourne, Australia bermula hari ini hingga Sabtu. Pelumba berasal dari Terengganu itu masih segar selepas kemenangan dalam acara pecut lelaki GP Perth di Midvalle yang turut menyaksikan seorang lagi pelumba negara, Josiah Ng memenangi emas acara keirin. Dan kejayaan itu disifatkan berlaku dalam 'mood peralihan' ketika skuad negara sedang menjalani latihan bagi menghadapi kejohanan lebih penting iaitu Kejohanan Dunia tahun depan. "Saya tidak meletakkan apa-apa harapan besar tetapi saya harap dapat beraksi baik," katanya menerusi khidmat pesanan ringkas. "Tanpa Rizal (Tisin) kami akan mencuba kombinasi lain pula bersama Josiah dan Edrus Mohd Yunos." Azizulhasni menewaskan pelumba Australia, Scott Sunderland dalam fina...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The uncertainty surrounding the destiny of the Tour of Malaysia cycling event next year was answered when its organiser Ten Speed Events assured that the event would go on. Organising chairman Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz said the event had to be postponed from January to April due to lack of sponsors. "We have now postponed the Tour from the initial dates, Jan 11-18 to April 19-26, to ensure the prestigious international cycling event was organised without any hitches," he told reporters here, Tuesday. Astaman said as the organiser, he also did not want to burden the government due to the shortfalls in its organisation. "For the past two years, we had spent RM8 million to organise the event with money sourced from sponsors and we never sought funds from the government," he said. This year though Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had promised to provide funds to organise the Tour and that is a very positive n...

ASTAMAN menjawab soalan pemberita pada sidang media di Kuala Lumpur semalam. SECARA rasminya, kejohanan lumba basikal tertua negara, Jela- jah Malaysia (JM) 2009 telah ditangguhkan semalam. Kejohanan berstatus 2.2 yang sepatutnya berlangsung pada 11 hingga 18 Januari tahun depan itu telah ditangguhkan pada pertengahan April. Pengerusi Penganjur JM2009, Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz berkata, kejohanan itu terpaksa ditangguhkan kerana mereka gagal mendapatkan penaja utama. Tidak seperti dua edisi yang lalu (JM2007 dan JM2008), penganjur, Ten Speed Events Sdn. Bhd. berjaya menganjurkan kejohanan ini penuh gemilang. "Kami tidak mahu acara yang berprestij ini dijalankan dalam keadaan serba kekurangan sehingga menyebabkan reputasi acara ini luntur seperti tahun-tahun sebelum 2007," kata Astaman pada satu sidang media di Kuala Lumpur semalam. "Kegagalan menganjurkan kejohanan ini tidak hanya akan menjejaskan imej negara, tetapi turut melunturkan minat peminat sukan lumba basi...