KUALA LUMPUR – National mountain bike (MTB) team manager Mohd Saiful Abdul Jalil assured that the cycling medal target for the Cambodia SEA Games remains unchanged despite the latest scandal to hit the national cycling body.
Saiful said it has already set a target of one gold and one bronze medal for the Games, which take place from May 5 to 17.
This follows the exclusion of a coach from national training over their link to a recent sexual harassment allegation by a national female MTB rider.
“Our medal target remains the same, and that is to win one gold and one bronze.
“But we will have to revise the training programme to accommodate the last-minute inclusion of a new coach into the team,” he said.
The new coach Saiful was referring to is Kedah trainer Nor Alfizar Othman.
The national body has roped her in for the national team’s preparation ahead of the biennial Games in place of the accused coach, who is currently suspended pending a police investigation.
“She (Nor Alfizar) has her own (training) plan but it will not affect the team’s preparation.
“The training programme for the riders may change slightly with the presence of Nor Alfizar as a temporary coach.
“But I believe the riders would be able to adapt as she is the best coach we have right now.
“We have also requested from the Olympic Council of Malaysia to change the name of the coach to Nor Alfizar for her to be sent to Cambodia,” he added.
Meanwhile, Malaysian National Cycling Federation vice-president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said the cyclist who made the allegation has been receiving counselling to help her through the trauma.
“I have spoken with the rider and she is determined to help the national team defend the gold medal won at the Hanoi SEA Games, last year.
“We want to make sure her welfare and safety are now our priority.
“We borrowed Nor Alfizar from the Kedah National Sports Council and she will help prepare the team until the upcoming SEA Games,” said Amarjit when met after a meeting with National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail at Bukit Jalil here today. – The Vibes, April 4, 2023
