Kuala lumpur: The National Sports Council (MSN) has launched the Para Cycling Talent Camp as part of two new initiatives aimed at enhancing efforts to develop para-cycling talent capable of competing internationally.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the camp was professionally conducted by national coaches at the Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan on May 7 and 8, involving 31 para-athletes from various parts of the country. Following the camp, eight top para-athletes were chosen for the Next Gen Programme, which will run from July to December 2026. The best performers will be offered full-time training under MSN.
These initiatives were introduced in light of the success of Mohamad Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin, who made history by becoming the first Malaysian para-cyclist to win a sprint gold medal at the 2025 Para Track Cycling World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. Jefri Ngadirin, MSN director-general, emphasized that these efforts could consistently identify and nurture para-cycling talent, providing them exposure to a professional training environment to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.
The second initiative, slated to commence early next year, involves widening the scope of talent identification by introducing a para-cycling programme at the state level. MSN plans to collaborate with state sports councils to implement para-cycling programs across the states, aiming for nationwide participation by 2027. Initial efforts will focus on states with velodrome facilities, such as Terengganu, Johor, and Negeri Sembilan, while also bolstering the coaching team with the appointment of a new coach for the development program.
Furthermore, MSN is coordinating to host competitions in Malaysia that are recognized by the International Cycling Union (UCI), enabling national para-cyclists to accumulate qualification points for significant championships. Alongside commitments at this year's Commonwealth Games and Asian Para Games, the national team is targeting qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games through the 2026 Para Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, this October.