PROMISING youngsters Malek Marcus McRone and Ummi Hamimah Mohamad will be given their UCWorld Cup debuts in Round Two in Glasgow on Nov 16-18, under a compromised national track programme.
The duo will be blooded by head coach John Beasley at the venue where the track cycling events for the next Commonwealth Games will be held, amidst some uncertainties in the administration of the track programme.Former national cyclist and Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association vice president M. Kumaresan is only willing to undertake duties as an understudy to Datuk Naim Mohamad who resigned as national track programme manager after the Olympics in August.
According to Naim, who had asked Kumaresan to take over the reigns following his resignation, the former Olympian is only willing to come on board full-time.
"We understand his grievances, they are genuine and the MNCF (Malaysian National Cycling Federation) will be looking into this," said Naim, who is also MNCF deputy president.
"It is time to work out a plan and programme professionally, so for the moment Kumaresan has asked to be an understudy to me. In this situation, it looks like I will just have to continue to get things done.
"But seriously, by the time the riders have to begin the qualification programme for the next Olympics, Kumaresan must be ready to take charge fully."
On Malek and Ummi Hamimah, Naim said the duo will be leaving for Glasgow on Nov 11, along with Beasley and they have a chance to prove their selection for the elite programme is right.
"We aren't under pressure to qualify for the World Championships as we already have earned slots via the Asian Championships through Fatehah Mustapa and Josiah Ng. So this gives the youngsters a chance to show us what they've got," said Naim.
Olympic keirin finalist Azizulhasni Awang is currently on leave and only doing light training as his wife is due to deliver their first child this month, while former World Championships bronze medallist Rizal Tisin has began his quest to return to form under assistant coach Harnizam Basri in Kuala Lumpur.
"We're looking at Azizul to return soon as the World Championships next year is early (February), but this is a situation in which he has to be given time off," said Naim.
Read more: CYCLING: Reluctant Naim staying on - Racing - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/racing/cycling-reluctant-naim-staying-on-1.165931#ixzz2BB1czwSf
