SPEECH FOR  Y.A.M. TUNKU TAN SRI IMRAN IBNI ALMARHUM TUANKU JA’AFAR 
YSD CHAIRMAN 

Attendees

• Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, the Minister of Youth and Sports.
• Mr. John Beasley, High Performance Director of the National Sports Council (MSN), and Technical Advisor for the YSD Track Series.
• En. Suhardi Alias, Deputy Director General, National Sports Council (MSN).
• En. Yunus Ibrahim, Deputy President, Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
• Members of the media.

Speech

1. Assalamualaikum and a very good afternoon, everyone.
2. On behalf of both Yayasan Sime Darby and SportExcel, welcome to the launch of the first ever track cycling series in Malaysia. We are especially honoured that the new Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Hannah Yeoh, could join us today to launch the YSD Track Series with me. YB Hannah, I wish you all the best in this new role, and YSD looks forward to working with you while we continue to support government efforts in sports development in the country.
3. I am happy to announce that YSD will be sponsoring the YSD Track Series for the next 3 years with a total commitment of RM2.7 million. Our main goal for the YSD Track Series is to provide a high quality and safe track cycling racing avenue for the development of local track cyclists in Malaysia. The series will feature both male and female cyclists who will compete in junior and elite categories of Under-19, Under-17 and Under 15, in 10 types of endurance and sprint disciplines or events. The participation of Southeast Asian athletes will also be arranged, to increase the level of competition for our local cyclists.
4. With the YSD Track Series, we shall be increasing the number of local races from the current 4, to about 20 races per year, in the next 3 years; to address the lack of track cycling racing opportunities in Malaysia. Currently, the insufficient number of available local competitions in the track cycling arena is hindering the development of high potential elite and junior cyclists. Our investment in the YSD Track Series is thus crucial to create and provide a proper and safe avenue that fulfils the needs of local track cycling talents, towards their development, with important and accessible racing exposure.
5. We hope that this series will encourage the formation of local racing clubs to create a new pathway for junior cyclists, and for a new channel where fresh new talents may be identified for the national elite team.
6. Ladies and gentlemen, Recently, through the Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team Road to Tokyo 2020 programme, we achieved 90 podium finishes at competitions all across the world over 3 years, despite the pandemic that hit us. YSD also supported the Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team’s Road to Rio 2016, and Road to London 2012 programmes. Following these achievements, we are continuing and expanding our support for Malaysian track cycling from a different perspective - where the YSD Track Series will nurture future young talent, while bringing about the passion of track cycling to a larger population.
7. YSD also supports other sports from the grassroots to elite levels - including cricket, rugby, football, golf, and squash, amongst others. Over the years, under YSD’s Sports pillar, more than 90 national talents have been identified via our development programmes in various sports. It is important to YSD that we complement government initiatives, and fill the gaps to develop sports in the country.
8. As you may already know, one of the major focus areas under the YSD Sports pillar is the development of women and girls in sports. So far, we have put significant funding behind the women’s National Cricket Team; female rugby players, female golfers, girl footballers, and female junior athletes in BMX, tennis, squash, and swimming; and most recently - Ms Aaliyah Yoong, Malaysia’s and Southeast Asia’s number 1 waterski athlete. I am a strong believer that there is significant untapped potential among female athletes, and I am keen to see them flourish with the right kind of support.
9. Ladies and gentlemen, The YSD Track Series is expected to kick off with its first race in early 2023, spearheaded by SportExcel. The renowned John Beasley, MSN High Performance Director, will play the role of the Technical Advisor for the YSD Track Series, assisted by Mohd Izham Mohamad, ISN High Performance Manager of Cycling. YSD has been working closely with both these gentlemen in track cycling throughout the past 3 Olympic cycles. Aside from John and Izham, I also wish to thank MSN and MNCF for providing the venue, manpower and technical expertise to run the track series on the ground.
10. The establishment of the YSD Track Series was motivated by the success of Malaysian track cyclists such as Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom – both of whom YSD had supported for many years; as well as stellar female cyclists whom YSD had also supported such as Fatehah Mustapa and Anis Amira Rosidi. They are all household names, given their success in track cycling and representation of Malaysia on the world stage – and we are certain that there are more of such high potential talents waiting to be discovered.
11. To all the young cyclists who will be participating in the YSD Track Series, all the very best. We look forward to your growth in track cycling, which in turn will contribute to the growth of the sport in Malaysia. With the success of the YSD Track Series, I am confident that we shall develop a league of new champions who will bring greater glory to the country.

Thank you.