Cycling

Beasley will move to Malaysia if offered contract

National track cycling coach John Beasley is willing to relocate to Malaysia if offered a long-term contract by the National Sports Council (NSC).

The national squad have been training in Melbourne under Beasley for over a decade.

The cyclists have remained in Australia, although cycling infrastructure has improved in Malaysia over the years.

The completion of the National Velodrome in Nilai in 2017 offers the squad an option to return.

Beasley's current contract ends at the end of the year.

The Australian said he is also willing to become the high-performance director for cycling if offered the job.

National coaches are normally given two-year contract extensions by the NSC.

"I am never worried about contracts. It is something out of my control.

"Either you get presented with a (new) contract or told your services are no longer needed," said Beasley yesterday.

"If the NSC were to offer me another contract, it would need to cover an Olympic cycle.

"If I move to Malaysia, which I am looking forward to doing, I think it would only be fair.

"If I am given a new contract, what role I am offered is not my decision.

"However, if there is a high-performance director position, I will certainly accept the challenge."

Beasley said he wants his support team to remain together for the next Olympic cycle, including high-performance manager Izham Mohamad.

"If I were to continue coaching Malaysia, I need my team to stay together.

"Together we are a force. Split us up, and we will never be able to achieve the lofty goals that we have set," said Beasley.

"I must have Izham by my side. He is the most intelligent, diligent, hard-working high-performance manager I have ever worked alongside, and he is a massive part of why the team are successful.

"He wants to stay and help us roll out a successful world-class programme while doing his PhD."

Sports science specialist Chee Lee Ming, physiotherapist Mollynica Juanis and assistant coach Harnizam Basri are the other members of Beasley's support team.

Beasley, who has produced several world-class cyclists for Malaysia, has said that his team will begin planning for an assault on the 2024 Paris Olympics soon.

Azizulhasni Awang delivered a silver medal for Malaysia in the men's keirin at the Tokyo Olympics last week.

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