KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- National track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang does not want to rush into participating in international competitions after a long break despite having announced his comeback to avoid serious injuries.
The 37-year-old athlete said he wanted to plan in detail, especially for his preparations for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
He said for now his focus would be on getting his cycling rhythm back before competing in international competitions.
"The main objective this year is to try to qualify for the World Track Cycling Championships (October). At least in the team event. That's for this year. But I need four to five months as well.
"For me, getting my rhythm back is crucial. Actually, I can just push myself but if I try too hard (to participate in the championship), it will have long-term injury effects. "Next year there will be a big tournament and that is my main target," he told reporters at a press conference at the National Sports Council (MSN) yesterday.
Further commenting, the Dungun-born rider said he would represent Team Azizul as a professional rider if he competed in the racing circuit organised by the International Cycling Union (UCI).
"But for (big) tournaments like the Asian Games, they are usually under the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and the National Sports Council (MSN). Usually they will make a selection, just like before.
Yesterday, Mohd Azizulhasni, who is nicknamed 'The Pocket Rocketman', announced that he would continue his career as a track cyclist but professionally.
He said the decision was made after discussing with MSN and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to ensure that all allocations could be focused on other riders.
According to him, one of the reasons he made the decision was to 'heal the wounds' of failing to bring home a gold medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hannah also announced an individual grant allocation of RM200,000 for Mohd Azizulhasni to move professionally for the year 2025-2026.
-- BERNAMA
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