A Snapshot of Pro-Keirin

Hello all, on behalf of Josiah, sorry for his lack of updates. I’d like to introduce myself as Josiah’s fiancee and also his PR Manager. Here’s my story:

Miles apart, I’m missing my soul-mate in Shizuoka, Japan. Earlier today, I was able to chat and webcam with Josiah on a long online date as he shared his keirin experience with me. Today, I’ll share with you what Josiah goes through in the keirin series.

“Keirin” is a track cycling event originated in Japan, where cyclists sprint for victory. There will be a motorbike pacing the riders for about five laps before they sprint in the final round. During the 5-lap pacing, they will position themselves and identify their tactics. There are rules and regulations to adhere to. The event was founded in 1948 and became an Olympic sport in 2000. It remains as a betting sport in Japan (just like horse-racing!).

Japan Keirin Association (JKA) was formed to establish a uniform system of standards for the sport, since there are so much rules and regulations. There is a difference for this betting sport as compared to the international one at Olympics or World Championships.

Aspiring professional keirin riders in Japan compete for entrance into the Japan Keirin School. The 10 percent of applicants who are accepted then undergo a strict, 15-hours per day, training regimen. Those who pass the graduation exams, and are approved by the JKA become eligible for professional keirin races in Japan.

This year, the JKA opened up applications for keirin riders all over the world for this six-month programme from April till September 2009. Only five were selected. Josiah was the lucky one from Malaysia to be selected alongside international riders Teun Mulder, Matthew Crampton, Shane Perkins and Ross Edgar.

I remember Josiah filling up tons of paperwork for submission of entry throughout the process. After selection, the riders have to go through the Japan Keirin School and take a test to update themselves about the keirin style for this betting sport series.

The dorm at Shizuoka overlooks Mount Fiji. So beautiful, it looks like a photo I would have lifted off Google Images.

Prior to racing, all riders have to undergo a test.

Schedule has to be adhered to. All keirin riders train together.

Existing Japanese riders are seen introducing the five international riders.

Introduction profile board.

The keirin bicycles are parked at the velodrome.

Josiah had his profile photo taken. He insisted on making a suit specially from Bespoked just for this keirin series. Efficiency and presentation are very important in the Japanese culture.

I really love this tandem bike. It’s for mummy daddy and little one behind!

I seriously did consider a trishaw for my wedding.

Josiah was at a lecture at the Japan Keirin School.

Such cute bedroom slippers at the dorm! Haha.

The Japanese keirin riders. I think they all look the same! Actually, they looked like Kenny Sia when he went botak for charity.

All decked in their different attires and colours. Josiah got to wear his surname (Ng). Such vibrant colours, they look like teletubbies!

That white jacket is for body protection, what they wear inside their jerseys.

Sprinters are generally bigger in size, not to be compared with road cyclist Lance Armstrong.

The riders trying out the track. Rain or shine, they still ride. It’s a pretty rough game, high risk of collision and injuries. Josiah said it’s better to crash while it rains, apparently less damaging. Oh goshhhh!

One day he could be number 5, next day he could be 6 and in different colours.

Just look at how huge the helmet is!

Fancy frog legs, anyone?

How about a Michelin tyre? This huge dude was apparently a former wrestling champion and turned to track cycling. He is the biggest dude in the entire keirin school.

All of a sudden, they invited Josiah to arm wrestle with him.

Josiah struggled for 1.5 minutes before losing to the Mr. Former-Wrestler.

Moving on to the bikes, Josiah getting his bike checked at Nagasawa’s.

Such a beautiful bike, big wheels, looks rather thing but lovely!

Imagine this.

Above: Josiah Ng and Rizal Tisin.

See, you can compare their body armour and bicycles from the teletubbies’ photos earlier with this one at normal races; World Championships and etc.

There’s so much to learn about cycling. I wonder if all these cyclists excelled at Physics subject in school. All sportsmen for that matter.

Proud Of My Team-Mates

Malaysia welcomes home track team

By Jean-François Quénet in Kuala Lumpur

After the performances of Malaysia’s riders at last week’s UCI Track World Championships in Pruskow, Poland, interest in their home country has increased significantly. Approximately one hundred fans and friends, plus a large gathering of reporters waited for the arrival of passengers from Amsterdam at Kuala Lumpur international airport at 3pm yesterday, as banners greeted the national team.

Azizul Asni Awang’s silver in the individual sprint and Rizal Tisin’s bronze in the 1000m time trial was cause for celebration, with a function at the Malaysian National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil – also the headquarters for Le Tour de Langkawi – awaiting the successful duo.

“This is the first time Malaysia has returned with medals from the cycling world championships,” said Minister for Youth and Sports, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. “History has been made and now we know that not only [athletes in] badminton can target a gold medal at the next Olympic Games in London in 2012 but [those in] cycling also can do it.”

With cycling (plus archery and badminton) identified as one of the three sports likely to Malaysia Olympic medals, funding has been allocated accordingly. The Minister also announced that Azizul and Rizal will receive an incentive reward of 20 000 and 10 000 Malaysian Ringgits respectively (approximately US$5,550 and US$2,770) for their achievements.

Malaysia’s Australian coach John Beasley and Josiah Ng, who finished sixth in the team sprint in Poland (a significantly improved performance), were also welcomed as national heroes.

“My co-operation started with Josiah, who was looking for a coach and came to me in Melbourne,” recalled Beasley. “After the Commonwealth Games in 2006, I took care of the whole Malaysian team. That was the breath of fresh air I was looking for and now I’ll spend more time in this country because there is a huge potential of development at many levels,” he added.

“BMX and MTB are also a concern now,” continued Beasley. “On the track, the next target is a World’s gold medal. The results in Poland have shown that it is a very realistic goal, especially in the kilo.”

Ng was delighted to see the excitement now surrounding Malaysian cycling. “Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script”, said the Philippines-born Malaysian who grew up in California. “It’s hard to say that it’s a fairytale because it’s only the beginning of the story. More great things are yet to come from our country,” he said.

“What was done in Poland will hopefully inspire thousands of Malaysian kids as much as I inspired Rizal when he came and watched me riding a world cup event in Ipoh nine years ago – and now he’s a medallist at the world championship. One generation on and it’s time for other kids to perform.”

That next generation could be inspired by these latest events, and some of them were also part of the function in Bukit Jalil, sharing Azizul and Rizal’s joy. The Malaysian track squad will continue to celebrate at home before returning to training in Melbourne with the aim of taking more medals at the next Asian Games in China and Commonwealth Games in India next year.

“Nothing less than gold will be our aim,” said Ng. “Hopefully we’ll remain the dominant team in Asia as we were at these world championships.”