IN a surprise move, national track endurance coach Ng Joo Ngan (above) has been "demoted" to mechanic to serve the national sprints squad in the Beijing Olympics.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi confirmed the registration submitted by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), but has no objections.

That means the team's regular mechanic, Antonio Gatto, an American who has served in the squad's World Cup and World Championships campaigns, has been unceremoniously dropped.

And there is no turning back since the deadline for registration is today.

As such, the officials to travel with the squad for their most important assignment to date will be MNCF president Abu Samah Wahab, who is team manager, coach John Beasley and Joo Ngan as mechanic.
"We have a selection committee, comprising the National Sports Council (NSC), National Sports Institute (NSI) and the national bodies of the sport and nobody had any objections," said Kok Chi yesterday.

Joo Ngan is in charge of the track endurance squad, which had failed to provide a single Olympic qualifier, but the sudden decision to allow the coach to act as mechanic has raised some questions.

"We have to rely on the national sports association (NSA) and we trust that they have the interest of the sport as a priority," said Kok Chi.

"In any case, we would always prefer a Malaysian rather than a foreigner. That way we can be in control. In past Olympics, there have been undesired incidents involving foreigners, but we could not take action."

The squad under Beasley is currently in Valencia, Spain to fine-tune their preparations. The squad for the Olympics comprises Azizul Hasni Awang, Josiah Ng, Rizal Tisin and Edrus Yunus.