Facing the Future

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Furthering her interest in sports starting from the time when she was a runner and sprinter in secondary school, Elly recently graduated from UiTM with a diploma in Sports Science. “I actually didn’t like science in school,” says Elly, “but when I took my diploma, I got involved in sports, and I decided to know more about sports science because in sports I have to know more about proper training, nutrition, things like that. That’s why I took this diploma.” Elaborating on the details of her qualification, “Elly says, “Sports science is about 2 things, sports management and sports outdoors. Sports management is about managing sports teams and sports events. It’s about ensuring that all the resources that a team or event needs are there when required. Sports outdoors is towards the event management side of things. It is not actually about coaching. It’s more about sports as a business. I can manage a team, or organise events, or continue on into sports education at degree level. It also involves looking at things like contract management.”

Talking about her future plans, Elly outlines her short and long term goals. She has a clear picture of both her sports and professional careers, and is intent on putting her plans into place. “I have a target to go overseas to see where my level is. I’m targeting the Asian Cup in the Philippines, but we’re not sure of a place yet. I’m also looking at 3 or 4 UCI sanctioned races in Australia,” says Elly. She makes it clear that she is eager to test herself against her regional racing contemporaries. “I don’t just want to be a ‘jaguhkampung’,” says Elly with a laugh. “My biggest target is the LIMBC (Langkawi International Mountain Bike Championship) this year. My target is to be in at least the top 10 for local riders,” she continues.” Her race schedule is packed for 2015, although her confirmed schedule is until May.

Elly has a 5 year plan for herself, with her long term goal to get into Asia level UCI level races. Along the way she intends to get her degree. After that she has plans to join the Royal Malaysian Navy as a cadet officer, to continue her interest in the outdoors and active pursuits. She speaks about some of her motivating factors that keep her going. “Like my coach, Amir Ismail said, when you win a race, not about what number you get. It’s about who you are competing against. It’s about who you win against. Let’s say, if I win a jamboree, but the rest of the competitors are just casual riders, kampung riders, then it doesn’t mean anything. So I have to compete against riders of my standard or higher. The level of competition is what motivates me to race.”

Elly ends the interview with some thoughts about cycle racing and life in general. “Cycling is about everything, it’s about your experience in life. The people you meet, the experience you gain makes you a better person. It helps make you a better person, it makes you more mature.” Elly also adds a bit of advice for female riders. “If you want to win races in Malaysia, it’s so easy. All you have to do is train hard, and have enough rest. You have to have the will to train and win, and you will be successful.”

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