Kuala Lumpur, 4 September 2017 – Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) will continue to invest in and support talented up-and-coming athletes as well as encourage their development to greater heights, YSD Chairman Tun Musa Hitam said.
He was commenting on the recent performance of the Road to Tokyo 2020 Olympics: The Sime Darby Foundation (SDF) Track Cycling Team at the 29th SEA Games. The newly formed team won three gold and five silver medals in the men’s and women’s team sprints as well in the men’s and women’s individual sprint events.
“I am pleased with the brilliant performance of the current SDF Track Cycling team at the SEA Games,” he said today at a press conference with the SDF Track Cycling Team.
“The Foundation believes in supporting new and promising talent to go further in their respective sporting fields. We did the same with Azizulhasni and Fatehah. As from all Malaysians, we take pride and congratulate both Azizul and Fatehah for their performances.
“We are excited with the performance of the current SDF Track Cycling team and we are confident that they will continue their winning streak enroute to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. On behalf of YSD representing the Sime Darby Group, we congratulate our Track Cycling Team and the team's ever-dedicated coach, John Beasley, for their successes,” he added.
Tun Musa said the Foundation first put track cycling on the map by sponsoring the team comprising of then juniors Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa in 2010 under the “Road to London 2012: YSD Track Cycling Team - Quest for Malaysia’s Olympic Cycling Medal” and “Road to Rio 2016: Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team” programmes.
YSD committed a total of RM4.85 million towards both programmes, and both Azizulhasni and Fatehah created history under YSD’s sponsorship.
Fatehah made history by becoming the first Malaysian female track cyclist to qualify for the Olympics and secured 15th place in the Keirin event at the London Olympic Games 2012.
Azizulhasni, on the other hand, clinched the nation’s first Olympic medal for track cycling after placing third in the Keirin final event during the Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games 2016.
The current SDF Track Cycling team comprises Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Muhammad Khairil Nizam Rasol, Mohamad Shariz Efendi Mohd Shahrin, Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis, Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan and Anis Amira Rosidi.
They have been carefully selected by national coach John Beasley due to their potential to become world class track cyclists and qualify for the next Olympic games.
“These six young athletes are promising talents in Malaysia and we are thankful that YSD has faith in them and has come on-board to help develop their full potential.
“Not many corporations would put millions behind junior athletes. I am excited with their progress and I hope that these young athletes may not only make a name for themselves in the global arena, but also smash records and continue to make Malaysia proud,” he added.
Under the “Road to Tokyo 2020 Olympics: The Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team” programme, YSD has committed RM2.6 million for the six (6) track cyclists to participate in international competitions and races that will allow them to earn the most points for qualification in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cup Classics.
Results from races in the UCI World Cup will, in turn, allow the cyclists to qualify for the UCI World Championships and, ultimately the Olympic Games.
Under its Youth & Sports pillar, YSD has committed RM189.84 million towards programmes that promote sporting activities to help youths realise their full potential, cultivate sportsmanship and raise the standards of sports.
