ONE of Malaysia’s best chances for success at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games will rest on the shoulders of national track cycling star Azizulhasni Awang. Coach John Beasley spoke about the 38-year-old Pocket Rocketman’s final Games and the aspirations of the team in Scotland.
Q. So many things have been said about Azizul over the years. What are his three best qualities?
A. That is a great question. Firstly, his love and genuine enjoyment of cycling. I can honestly say that Azizul is an athlete who is truly in love with the sport. Even after everything he has achieved, he still enjoys the process of training and competing.
Secondly, his passion and commitment to becoming a better version of himself every single day. He constantly challenges himself, but he also challenges me and the entire support team to make sure we are giving him the very best.
He is a professional in every sense of the word. He leaves nothing to chance in his preparation. Yes, with age come the occasional niggles and injuries, but I have never coached anyone who loves what they do as much as Azizul does.
Thirdly, he thrives on competition. While many athletes become nervous before major events, Azizul embraces them. He looks forward to the biggest races because he knows he has prepared thoroughly. He respects every opponent but fears no one. That is a rare quality. He knows that if he loses, it is because someone was simply better on that day, not because he left anything undone. His competitors always know they have been in a battle because he is an incredibly fierce competitor with outstanding tactical awareness.
Q. Since this is his last Commonwealth Games, what are your hopes and targets for him?
This may be his last Commonwealth Games, but we still have the Asian Games and the World Championships to come. Personally, I’m still trying to convince him to make one more Olympic campaign because I genuinely believe he still has all the attributes needed to win an Olympic gold medal.
That said, our focus is on getting through this season first. Our leading medal prospects at this Games are Azizul (men’s keirin), and Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom (men’s sprint and keirin) and Nurul Izzah Izzati (women’s 1km time trial). These athletes have consistently demonstrated they can compete with the world’s best and I believe Malaysia has the potential to return home with a couple of medals.
Q. Which countries will present the biggest challenge?
The Commonwealth Games features many of the strongest cycling nations in the world outside of Holland. Every medal will have to be earned against world-class opposition.
The strongest nations include England, Australia, New Zealand, Wales, Canada as well as Trinidad and Tobago. The standard is exceptionally high, which is exactly what makes winning a Commonwealth Games medal such a significant achievement.
Q. Do you think Azizul still has it in him to continue competing and moving forward?
Absolutely. From what I continue to see in training, Azizul still possesses the physical ability, competitive mindset and professionalism required to compete with the very best in the world. The decision will ultimately be his, but from a coaching perspective, I believe he is still capable of performing at the highest level if he chooses to continue.
After the Asian Games, Azizul will make his own decision about the future.
Many people in Malaysia focus purely on his age. My view is very different. Azizul is not an ordinary athlete, he is a truly exceptional one. He crashed at high speed, suffered a wooden splinter through his leg, got back on his bike and still rode across the finish line to win a world cup bronze medal. Very few athletes in the world could have done that.
Then there was his open-heart surgery. Specialists believed no athlete had ever returned to the very highest level after that procedure, yet Azizul proved them wrong once again.
Q: Many say we should give youngsters a chance, what’s your thought?
I also hear people say that he is keeping younger riders out of the team. My response is simple: if a younger athlete cannot beat Azizul, then they have not yet earned the right to take his place. At the highest level of sport, selection should always be based on performance and merit. Representing your country is a privilege that must be earned, not given.
Azizul is brave, committed, intrinsically driven, fearless and possesses an unwavering belief in himself. Yes, he will be 40 at the Los Angeles Olympics, but history has shown that athletes can still succeed at that age.
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