KUALA LUMPUR: National track cycling ace Azizulhasni Awang is likely to get back in gear much earlier than expected.
Without divulging further, head coach John Beasley said his team were working hard to get Azizul ready to compete in his first small race by the end of this year.
Not only that, the Australian coach expects the 34-year-old cyclist to compete in his first big tournament in the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Track Cycling Nations Cup next February since he last competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games last year.
The UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup is part of the qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“There’s no announcement yet on the location of the Nations Cup, though it’s somewhere in Asia I guess. We only have the date locked in at this point,” said Beasley.
“However, the performances will come much later, closer to the Paris Olympics. We just need to focus on the qualification to get him (Azizul) there,” he added.
The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist is still undergoing rehabilitation following surgery for a rare heart condition known as an anomalous aortic origin of right coronary artery at the Epworth Richmond Hospital in Melbourne last April.
The dangerous disease can cause a heart attack and sudden death if not treated immediately.
Asked about Azizul’s condition, Beasley said his recovery was going well and that he appeared healthy at the moment.
Beasley said the Pocket Rocketman had begun training at the track last week including doing some three-hour road rides.
He added that the Dungun-born cyclist had lost six kilograms after the surgery.
“We need to rebuild a lot of his muscles, give him time to get back to full fitness and you will see ‘The Pocket Rocketman’ back to his best,” he added. — Bernama
