By Shikin Louis
KOTA SAMARAHAN, June 22: Sarawak is planning to build its first velodrome, with the project expected to take three years to complete once construction begins—marking a major milestone in the State’s bid to raise its cycling game to the next level.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the site for the proposed velodrome has already been identified and a presentation has been made to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“We are still working out the details because it’s going to be quite costly—probably in the range of tens of millions.
“It’s currently still in the land acquisition stage,” he told reporters after closing the Samarahan Bike Challenge (SBC) 2025 at The Summer Shopping Mall here today.
While the velodrome will not be completed in time for the upcoming SEA Games, Abdul Karim said it will serve as a key facility to propel Sarawak’s cycling athletes to greater heights in future competitions.
The project comes on the back of renewed momentum in the State’s cycling scene, following a restructuring of the Sarawak Cycling Association in the wake of an underwhelming performance at Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI 2024.
Despite competing on home turf across several disciplines—including road race, mountain biking, and BMX—Sarawak failed to bring home any cycling medals.
“We were quite disappointed. There were so many disciplines, and yet we couldn’t perform.
“One of the issues was relying too much on one or two athletes. If something happens—like a fall—it costs everything. So we need a deeper athlete pool,” Abdul Karim said.
He noted that things have since improved after the team was revamped and a new coach appointed.
At the recent Malaysia National Track Championships 2025 in Johor, Sarawak shocked the field by bagging four gold medals, along with silver and bronze—14 medals in total.
“This has never happened before, especially in a velodrome event. Suddenly Sarawak is being seen as a serious threat, even though we still don’t have our own velodrome,” he added.
Abdul Karim also commended the Samarahan Bike Challenge (SBC) 2025, now in its ninth edition, for helping to promote grassroots development and community interest in the sport.
“Events like this are very important. They spark interest and help build up the sport. Next year will be the 10th edition, and we hope to raise the prize money to attract more participation,” he said. — DayakDaily
