Track cycling queen, Fatehah, appointed as assistant coach

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 – The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM) has sought the help of track cycling queen, Fatehah Mustapa, to strengthen its grassroots development programme.

PKBM vice president (I), Firdaus Arshad, said her appointment as assistant coach takes effect Sept 1 and she will be assisting development chief coach, Sood Hussin, in finding new female track cycling talent especially.

“Her contract and salary will be fully managed by the National Sports Council (MSN); we merely supported her appointment.

“We hope her extensive experience will help PKBM produce even more cycling talent, especially among the women since we’re deprived of international level female talent like Fatehah,” Firdaus said at a press conference following a working committee meeting with MSN and the National Sports Institute (ISN) today.

In April, Fatehah, 31, had announced her retirement after 17 years as a national track cyclist.

On another matter, Firdaus – who is PKBM technical committee chairman – confirmed that the sports body will go ahead with three planned local competitions this year while following the prescribed standard operating procedure (SOP).

The events are the National Road Cycling Championship in Melaka (Sept 19-20), National Track Cycling Championship at Velodrom Nilai, Negeri Sembilan (Oct 16-18) and BMX Championship (Nov 7-8), although the venue has yet to be confirmed.

“Since we’re waiting on a new date for the Asian (Track) Cycling Championship, we decided to focus on the domestic events,” Firdaus said.

On the participation of the elite squad in the Melaka event, he said it must be discussed with national track cycling chief coach, John Beasley, first.

The elite squad members include Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom who has been based in Melbourne, Australia for a few years now.

-- BERNAMA