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KUCHING, Aug 25: Coach Ednalyn Hualda, leading the seven-member Philippines mountain bike team, is optimistic about her team’s chances and hopes to secure a podium position during the 20th edition of the Siol International Mountain Bike Challenge 2023 (SIMBC2023) over the weekend.
Hualda mentioned that this is their team’s inaugural participation in the event and they consider themselves fortunate to witness the return of the mountain bike challenge to the venue after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are very surprised to see the professional setup, the track, and the excellent event management. However, our primary goal is to win,” she expressed to DayakDaily during the team presentation and high tea event for the SIMBC 2023 participants, which was officiated by Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) Mayor Datu Juniadi Reduan at DBKU Arena on Bukit Siol today.
Hualda continued by emphasising that the event serves as a platform to expose their junior riders to other talented riders in the region before the Mountain Bike Cycling ACC Asian Championships 2023 scheduled for October in India.
“We consider the event here at Siol to be of great importance, and we’ve assembled a team to compete at the highest level of competition,” she shared.
Before arriving in Kuching, the team had participated in races in Thailand, Japan, and recently concluded a championship in the Philippines, Hualda revealed.
Despite having competed in various races prior to Siol, Hualda noted that they had earmarked this event on their racing calendar.
“So, it holds significant importance for us as well,” she reiterated.
Hualda acknowledged that, despite rigorous preparations, some of her riders found the wet weather challenging in Siol.
“However, most of the riders are mentally prepared for the challenge, except perhaps a few who have just completed races in the Philippines. For the rest, they are ready to perform.”
“We hold great respect for all rival teams, especially Malaysia, as all the participating teams in the event are striving to earn points for a place in the Olympics,” she concluded. — DayakDaily
