Nilai: The national track cycling squad's gold medal pursuit at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand this December remains steadfast despite the absence of their leading rider, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom. Shah Firdaus has been sidelined due to a recent surgery on his right knee, yet the squad is undeterred in their mission.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, national track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri expressed confidence in the team's prospects, highlighting the capabilities of Muhammad Shah Firdaus' younger brother, Muhammad Ridwan, alongside teammates Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis and Mohd Akmal Nazimi Jusena. These riders are expected to spearhead the campaign for gold in the men's keirin and men's team sprint events.

Coach Harnizam revealed that Shah Firdaus underwent surgery at a private hospital two weeks prior and anticipates beginning light training in the coming weeks. "I can confidently say there isn't much change to the gold target because our team is well-known in the Southeast Asian region," he stated during a media briefing following a visit from 2025 SEA Games Chef-de-Mission, Nurul Huda Abdullah, at the National Velodrome of Malaysia.

The injury that has sidelined Shah Firdaus is believed to have originated from an accident in the men's keirin final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite his determination and resilience, the accident resulted in a fracture in the knee cartilage, discovered after he continued to experience pain during the 2025 Asian Track Cycling Championships.

Shah Firdaus' remarkable effort at the Paris Olympics, where he was a strong contender for a medal before a crash involving Japanese rider Shinji Nakano dashed his hopes, exemplified his tenacity. Despite the setback, his resolve to cross the finish line was evident, even as he was relegated to sixth place post-race.

Looking ahead, the Malaysian squad is set for a month-long training camp in Chiang Mai next month before proceeding to the Hua Mark Velodrome in Bangkok for the SEA Games. Given the open-air nature of the competition venue, additional training sessions are planned at the Cheras Velodrome in Kuala Lumpur to acclimate the riders to similar conditions.

The 2025 Thailand SEA Games, scheduled from December 9 to 20, will unfold across Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, with the Malaysian track cycling team determined to make their mark in the regional sporting spectacle.