KUALA LUMPUR – National track cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom revealed that after seven years, he was finally able to replace his cycling shoes, thanks to the support from the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
Shah was one of the first athletes to be included in the national elite sports programme when it was introduced last year, aimed primarily at winning Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal.
However, some have questioned the programme’s effectiveness, especially after Malaysia secured only two bronze medals in badminton at the Paris Olympics.
Shah shared that the programme has significantly eased the challenges he previously faced, with the new cycling shoes being just one of many forms of support he has received.
He admitted he could not afford to replace the shoes earlier, explaining that his previous pair, custom-made in the United Kingdom, had been in use since 2017 and came with a hefty price tag of RM8,000.
“After joining RTG, I was finally able to buy two more pairs because that was my request, especially since these shoes are custom-made.
“People don’t realise it, but before RTG, we couldn’t afford to participate in many races and had to be selective about which ones to attend. Our opportunities were really limited.
“Now, with RTG, we have the chance to compete in more races and purchase necessary equipment,” Shah said when met at KLIA upon his return from Paris recently.
Although Shah did not secure a medal at the Paris Olympics, he demonstrated his potential by advancing to the final, especially after Malaysia’s skipper, Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, was knocked out in the first round.
Shah’s hopes of clinching at least a bronze in the keirin were dashed when he was involved in a collision with Japanese cyclist Shinji Nakano. To make matters worse, Shah, who initially finished fourth, was ultimately relegated.
Previously, national coach John Beasley urged that the RTG programme should not be terminated, advocating for its continuation until the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Similarly, Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill believes the programme is not a failure and hopes it will continue consistently, without the risk of being scrapped or altered by a new administration. – August 15, 2024