KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The coaching talent of Malaysians continues to be sought after by foreign countries, with the latest being former national track cyclist Mohd Rizal Tisin, who has been hired by the Thai national team.
Mohd Rizal said he took up his coaching job in Thailand last month after being given a one-year contract by the Thaicycling Association.
The 40-year-old coach, who has previously trained teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, said his primary task was to help the country's cyclists prepare for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, scheduled from Dec 9-20 this year.
"Actually, they (Thailand) had approached me back in 2018, but I declined because I was under contract with Singapore.
"After my duties with Indonesia ended last May, Thailand approached me again. I agreed to the deal offered in December last year and began my role in January 2025," he told Bernama.
Mohd Rizal admitted that he was actually waiting for an offer to return to coaching the national squad, but it is understood that there are no vacant positions at the moment.
The Olympian is satisfied with the performance of his charges so far, especially after bringing home two bronze medals in his first assignment as coach at the ASEAN Track Series (President's Cup) 1 at the National Velodrome, Nilai, last month.
The two bronze medals were contributed by Kanawat Chuathahan (junior men's keirin) and Sirawit Saensai (junior men's sprint).
Mohd Rizal said that currently, he is focused on training his riders, including key prospect and 2024 Junior Track Cycling World Championships silver medallist in the men's keirin, Norasetthada Bunma, as they prepare for the 2025 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ATC) from Feb 21-27 in Nilai.
"I hope the performance of the Thai cyclists will improve at ATC 2025 after competing in the ASEAN Track Series (President's Cup) 1," he said.
He expects to be involved in an official meeting with the Thaicycling Association before the ATC 2025 to set the direction of the Thai cycling team, including medal targets for the 2025 SEA Games, which will be held in Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla.
In addition to Mohd Rizal, Malaysia has recently lost two former divers: Wendy Ng Yan Yee, who serves as the talent development coach for Singapore's national diving team, and former national diving team technical director Bryan Nickson Lomas, who was poached by a country in Asia.
-- BERNAMA
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