KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) will formally propose renaming the National Velodrome in Nilai in honour of track cycling icon Azizulhasni Awang.
MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, however, said the final decision rests with the government.
"We received a letter from Khairy Jamaluddin today (May 3), in his capacity as Negri Sembilan Cycling Association president, proposing that the National Velodrome be renamed after Azizul," said Amarjit after MNCF's annual general meeting.
"Personally, I fully support this and we (MNCF) have unanimously agreed to bring this to the Youth and Sports Ministry.
"This is not a decision we can make alone as this building belongs to the government, it is not a straightforward process.
"It will take time, possibly one or two years. Perhaps we will ask Khairy to speak to the government and use his experience (as a former minister)."
Azizul, however, already has Velodrom Azizulhasni Awang in Dungun – a grassroots development track – named after him.
On this, Amarjit added that the one in Terengganu may have to be renamed if the National Velodrome takes on his name.
"It may have to be renamed Velodrom Dungun as we cannot have two velodromes with the same name.
"That would cause a lot of confusion. We might have riders from abroad heading to Dungun instead of Nilai when we host races."
The two-time Olympic medallist cemented his status as a Malaysian cycling great by upsetting current stars Matthew Richardson of Britain and world champion Harrie Lavreysen of Holland en route to winning two keirin golds and two individual sprint bronzes in the Track World Cup series this year.
Meanwhile, there were no real surprises in the MNCF elections for the 2026-2030 term as the favourites prevailed.
Norazman Abu Samah (Melaka), son of the late former president Datuk Abu Samah Wahab, comfortably defeated Saiful Abdul Jalil (Putrajaya) 44-21 in a straight fight for the deputy president's post.
Both were incumbent vice presidents.
Firdaus Dawod (Johor, 59 votes), M. Rezal Abu Bakar (Terengganu, 49 votes), Firdaus Arshad (Kuala Lumpur, 48 votes), SAC Mohd Zairi Badderul (Royal Malaysian Police, 46 votes) and Irawan Datuk Sudarsono (Sarawak, 45 votes) claimed the five vice president positions, beating Norhazlee Mohd Zaki (Kelantan, 42 votes) and Omar Saad (Kedah, 41 votes).
Khairy did not defend his vice president position but he is expected to continue serving MNCF in an appointed position.
Amarjit had retained the president's post unopposed.
