YSD Track Series
Over a Decade and Counting: Empowering the Malaysian Track Cycling Scene
In line with its commitment to supporting grassroots sports development programmes, YSD has uplifted the Malaysian track cycling scene through various initiatives—from its early days empowering the national track cycling team to represent the country at the Olympics, to launching Malaysia’s pioneer racing platform for junior and elite athletes, raising their competitiveness on the world stage.
YSD has supported Malaysian cyclists at three Olympic cycles: London in 2012, Rio in 2016, and Tokyo in 2020, with a total investment of RM7.45 million and bringing talents such as Azizulhasni Awang, Josiah Ng, Fatehah Mustapa, and Shah Firdaus Sahrom onto the international stage.
YSD proudly supported Azizul and Josiah at the London Olympics, and continued this support with Azizul and Fatehah at the Rio Olympics, followed by Azizul and Shah Firdaus at the Tokyo Olympics. Fatehah, the first Malaysian female track cyclist to qualify for the event at the Olympics, went on to have a stellar career, securing a silver medal at the Asian Games in Korea and multiple golds at the Asian Championships. Post-retirement, Fatehah has transitioned to coaching and is dedicated to developing the next generation of female cyclists.
YSD has supported four Olympians through three Olympic cycles.
Azizulhasni Awang
Scouted from the grassroots level, Azizul’s journey was shaped and supported by YSD, including funding for his education in Sports Management at Deakin University, Melbourne, through the YSD STAR Scholarship. Despite suffering a severe injury in 2011 – a 20cm wooden splinter piercing his calf during a World Championships event – Azizul’s resilience and determination never wavered. He went on to win Malaysia’s first-ever Olympic medal in track cycling, a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, followed by a silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, earning the fond nickname of Malaysia’s “Pocketrocket Man”.
Azizulhasni was supported through the “Road to Rio 2016: Sime Darby Foundation Track Cycling Team" to realise the nation’s dream of bringing home an Olympic medal
Nurul Izzah, who qualified for the Paris Olympics at the age of 20, was scouted through the YSD Track Series programme.
Outside of the Olympics, YSD has invested RM2.7 million in the YSD Track Series (YSDTS), which was launched in partnership with the Foundation for Malaysian Sporting Excellence (SportExcel) in 2022. The YSTDS provides a crucial racing platform for local talents, allowing them to compete against international athletes and gain the exposure needed to elevate their skills. This series has also been instrumental in discovering new talents, such as Nurul Izzah Izzati, who qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics at just 20 years old.
The YSD Australasean Series 2024, held at the National Velodrome in Nilai, brought together talent from Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore. The event was a resounding success, promoting race development and fostering international camaraderie.
Through these continued investments in grassroots development, YSD hopes to unearth and bring to light the next generation of Azizuls, Fatehahs, Shahs, and Nurul Izzahs, contributing to the national sports talent pool and bringing Malaysia’s name in the sporting arena to new heights.
“YSD has been there for me from the start back in 2017, all the way through to qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Their support has been significant in helping me achieve my goals. I qualified for my second Olympic games in Paris 2024, and YSD has been with me through the ups and downs. I cannot thank them enough.”
Female participation in Malaysian track cycling has grown steadily, with YSD committed to more programmes and initiatives to uplift women athletes.
RM10.15 million
committed over 15 years for YSDTS
1 female track racing athlete in 2016 full sprint team of female athletes
set to qualify in the LA 2028 Summer Olympics
4 atheletes
supported qualified for Olympics: Azizul, Josiah, Fatehah, and Shah Firdaus
YSDTS
A pioneer platform in developing track racing culture and breed new talents in the region
Women athletes competing in a close race at the National Velodrome in Nilai
“In track cycling, we are extremely privileged to have partnered with and supported by YSD since 2010, and we have seen great benefits in our sport. From a developing programme that was barely competitive in Asia, we have grown into a world class track sprint cycling programme and put Malaysia on the global track cycling map. We hope you have enjoyed this rollercoaster ride to success with us. Our challenge, like everyone else’s, is to stay competitive, keep evolving, and find new ways forward.”
YSD’s Track Series underscores the importance of regular, international-level track racing events and competitions to develop new talents and foster camaraderie.
Total Funding
RM10.15 million over 14 years
YSD Track Series
Over a Decade and Counting: Empowering the Malaysian Track Cycling Scene
