SEPANG – Could track cycling star Datuk Azizulhasni Awang continue to lead the nation in pursuit of its first Olympic gold medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Games?
Despite declaring that the Paris Games would be his last Olympics appearance after debuting at the Beijing edition in 2008, there could be second thoughts about Pocket Rocketman’s future following the unfortunate ending that took place at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome last weekend.
Azizul, who was Malaysia’s best hope to end the 68-year wait for an Olympic gold medal, not only faltered in the sprint event but also faced a setback when he was disqualified in the first round of the keirin, his pet event.
He won the bronze and silver medals at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, respectively.
Meanwhile, Azizul was warmly greeted by fans at Kuala Lumpur International Airport today. He was visibly emotional when discussing his future after dedicating 17 years to cycling for the country.
“Like I told you, I have not fully absorbed what happened. Usually, when I race and lose, I do some self-reflection, but this time, since I couldn’t do anything, I don’t know how to describe the feeling.
“As elite athletes, we live and breathe for our sport and country. I even put my family second to sports. Even when I’m on vacation, I still train, thinking about the Olympics. However, I don’t know what the future holds.
“My coach, John Beasley, and Shah (Firdaus Sahrom) want me to continue racing until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. However, I need to clear my head and discuss it with my family because the recent incident that happened in Paris was something unusual in my career,” said Azizul.
Besides being encouraged to keep racing, Azizul disclosed that he has also received offers for various administrative roles if he chooses to retire from competitive cycling.
Among the roles offered is to be on the panel for the “Road to Gold” programme, an initiative by the youth and sports minister that supports athletes preparing for the Olympics.
“During my flight back, YB Hannah Yeoh and I discussed some of the opportunities that I can venture into, which included participation with the RTG committee or top management roles in cycling, if I decide to continue.
“However, I need time to plan my future because I don’t want to make any decisions that will impact my family, who have sacrificed so much for me over the years,” he added. – August 13, 2024
