Azizul’s win in NZ inspires SEA Games-bound cyclists

Well done: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang shares his joy with fellow Malaysians residing in New Zealand.

PETALING JAYA: Former world track cycling champion Azizulhasni Awang’s sensational first title in New Zealand after the 2024 Olympic Games heartbreak should be an inspiration to the SEA Games-bound cyclists.

Technical director John Beasley hoped Mohd Fadhil Zonis and Mohd Ridwan Sahrom would be extra motivated after Azizul’s win yesterday.

The 37-year-old Azizul showed he still had the legs to compete and win on the international stage when put up a remarkable show to claim the men’s elite sprint gold medal at the New Zealand Grand Prix in Cambridge, New Zealand.

“Hopefully, what he did will also inspire his fellow national team riders (Fadhil and Ridwan) to do well for Malaysia at the coming SEA Games in Thailand,” said Beasley.

The track cycling competition at the Thailand SEA Games will take place from Dec 18-19 at Huamark Velodrome and they will compete without Azizul.

For Azizul, it was only his second competition since he started bike training after one year out of the saddle.

In fact, it was only in June when Azizul started serious track training after he went on a long break after his early exit at the Paris Olympics in August last year.

Azizul defeated South Korean national team rider Kim Geun-woo in two heats in the final as he continued to regain the form that made him one of the most feared keirin racers in the world in the past.

The two-time Olympic keirin medal winner was fastest in qualifying rounds with an impressive time of 10.017s, with Geun-woo second fastest with 10.081s.

Host country representative Liam Cavanagh of New Zealand was third fastest with 10.151s and crossed paths with Azizul in the semis before conceding defeat in the Class I ranked competition.

The Terengganu-born Azizul decided to go on his own as a professional in April and competed under his trade team, Team Azizul, on the international scene.

Azizul then competed at the Track Asia Cup in Thailand in August where he clinched a bronze in the sprint and fifth in the keirin.

Beasley was pleased to see the progress of Azizul, who is targeted to strike at the Asian Games in Japan next year.

“It’s been a long day of sprinting and I’m pleased to see Azizul up there,” said Beasley.

“It’s only his second race after the Olympic disappointment. I’m happy to see him sharing his joy with so many Malaysian students who came out to support him today.”