Yayasan Sime Darby Extends Sponsorship of Track Cycling Team en route to Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Kuala Lumpur, 17 November 2016 – Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) is extending the funding of the track cycling team, committing RM2.6 million over a period of three years and seven months (February 2017 to August 2020) to sponsor six junior track cyclists to book a spot and compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

This is the third round of funding that the Foundation has committed to prepare the Malaysian track cycling team for the Olympics. 

Previously, YSD committed RM4.85 million in sponsorship for the Road to London 2012: YSD Track Cycling Team and Road to Rio 2016: Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team. 

YSD also awarded a scholarship worth more than RM300,000 to Olympic Bronze medal winner Azizulhasni Awang to pursue his tertiary education in Melbourne, Australia. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Human Movement, which is expected to be completed in December next year.

YSD Chairman Tun Musa Hitam said Azizulhasni’s Olympic medal win in the track cycling event at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games has spurred the Foundation to sponsor six junior track cyclists namely Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Muhammad Khairil Nizam Rasol, Anis Amira Rosdi, Muhammad Fadil Mohd Zonis, Mohamad Shariz Efendi Mohd Shahrin and Farina Shawati Mohd Adnan; who are all between 19 and 21 years of age. These young cyclists have been carefully selected by coach John Beasley due to their potential to become world class athletes and make it to the next Olympic games. 

“Unfortunately, both Azizulhasni and Fatehah have expressed their wish not to continue under the YSD banner. However, as YSD support for them since 2010 has facilitated their outstanding achievements, the Foundation has achieved its objectives of nurturing young sports talent and providing both cyclists the opportunity to realise their full potential. They are well on their way to clinch the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in track cycling, and we wish them all the best.

“We shall also continue to support Azizulhasni’s degree in Exercise Science and Human Movement at Victoria University, Melbourne under the YSD Star Scholarship Programme.

“Our first sponsorship of “Road to London 2012 Olympics: The YSD Track Cycling Team” saw RM2 million allocated for seven track cyclists. This time around, we are launching “Road to Tokyo 2020 Olympics: The Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team”, consisting of the six named cyclists with a sponsorship amount of RM2.6 million,” he said. 

National track cycling head coach John Beasley said the sponsorship would greatly help to develop grassroots talent among youths. 

“I am very happy to continue working with YSD, as the people at the Foundation are like family to me. We hope to groom these young potential Olympians not only for the Tokyo Olympic Games, but to become excellent national athletes. 

“I look forward to develop these cyclists in the likes of Azizulhasni and Fatehah, to become proud national flag-bearers in the realm of sports,” he said.

With this sponsorship, YSD aims to provide an opportunity for the junior track cyclists to participate in international competitions and races that will allow them to earn the most points for qualification in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) World Cup Classics.  

Results from races in the UCI World Cup will, in turn, allow the cyclists to qualify for the UCI World Championships and, ultimately the Olympic Games.

Under its Youth & Sports pillar, YSD provides resources to promote sporting activities to help youths realise their full potential, cultivate sportsmanship and raise the standards of sports.

For further information, please contact: 

Meena Lakshana
Senior Executive, Public Relations
Yayasan Sime Darby 
Tel:  03-2691 4122 Ext 7614, 013-256 7160 (HP)
Email: meena.lakshana@simedarby.com 

About Yayasan Sime Darby
Yayasan Sime Darby, or Sime Darby Foundation, was established in 1982 and is the primary driver of Sime Darby Berhad’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. 

The objectives of Yayasan Sime Darby are supported by its five pillars, namely: community and health; education; youth and sports; arts and culture; environment. While led by independent members of a Governing Council and managed by a dedicated team, Yayasan Sime Darby works closely with the Sime Darby Group, in areas of mutual interest. 

Since its inception, Yayasan Sime Darby has awarded scholarships worth more than RM240 million to 3,208 students both in and outside Malaysia. It is supporting long term research projects of significant scientific value like the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project which is the world’s largest ecological project, a joint effort with the Royal Society (The UK and Commonwealth Academy of Science). Yayasan Sime Darby is also actively involved in the development and improvements of sports in Malaysia namely track cycling, lawn bowling, cricket, tennis and golf. Under its community & health pillar, Yayasan Sime Darby supports initiatives to promote the well-being of disadvantaged people irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed or gender and works with established organisations to promote the development of arts & culture.