National Track Cycling Coach Confident in Young Athlete’s Potential to Make it Big

By Michelle Liew

The country’s head track cycling coach, John Beasley, believes that the opportunity is wide open for Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom to advance further on the world stage after winning a bronze medal in the keirin event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Beasley insists such a long performance is expected from Shah Firdaus, who is back on ‘his 90%’ in the event here, and will be a turning point for the Johor-born athlete to shine in future sports tournaments or games.

“Shah Firdaus is indeed talented and needs a performance like this to convince himself. I believe that we will be able to see the real Shah Firdaus and what he can achieve in the next velodrome,” he told Bernama.

Shah Firdaus became the saviour of the national track cycling camp after he contributed the only medal from the Games while five other riders returned empty-handed.

Meanwhile, Beasley is also proud of the performance of two male riders – Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis and Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom, and three female riders – Anis Amira Rosidi, Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri.

Despite struggling to stand out at the games, he said all the young riders were very talented and reminded the fans of the country to be more patient with their development.

Beasley is also confident that they are not far from building a new-look young team that needs time to develop physically and mentally.

“Remember that it took Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Mohd Rizal Tisin a few years before he started competing with the world’s best riders on the world stage…so please give them time to mature,” he said.

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