PETALING JAYA: Fresh from reclaiming the Commonwealth Games keirin title, Azizulhasni Awang will soon decide whether he has one final Olympic campaign left in him.
The 38-year-old said he will make a call before the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on whether to commit to qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the qualification process beginning almost immediately after the continental meet.
The first major qualifying event, the Track World Championships in Shanghai in October, leaves Azizul little time to weigh his future.
"I have to decide soon because the Olympic qualification campaign starts straight after the Asian Games with the World Championships in Shanghai.
"It's a tricky situation because my focus right now is on preparing for the Asian Games, but the qualification race begins almost immediately after that.
"Cycling has been my passion all my life, and I'm still winning races and proving those who say athletes in their late 30s are past their best wrong.
"I'm open to discussing it with the stakeholders if they still believe I can contribute. My heart has always been in cycling, and I'll always give my best if the country still needs me.
"But there are many factors to consider because qualifying for the Olympics is a long and demanding process," said Azizul.
The Malaysian cycling icon has enjoyed a remarkable season, winning the Commonwealth Games keirin gold and claiming two Track World Cup titles in Perth and Nilai.
