KUALA LUMPUR: The National Sports Council (NSC) have denied claims that they had disregarded the plans of national track cycling ace Azizulhasni Awang and failed to appreciate his contributions and services over the years.
Describing the claims as irresponsible in a statement yesterday, the NSC said they had always stood firmly behind the Pocket Rocketman and all plans he had made, particularly those concerning his preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
NSC said this position had been conveyed to the athlete since questions over the matter arose before and after the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games through a series of meetings involving NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin and several other senior NSC officials with the athlete.
"In fact, the NSC held discussions with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation on July 7 to discuss the Olympic pathway involving national cyclists, including the need for Azizul, as the main rider, to accumulate the qualifying points he had mentioned.
"Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohd Taufiq Johari, who is also chairman of the NSC Board of Management, had also asked Azizul about his preparations and plans during the welcoming ceremony for the Malaysian contingent returning from the Commonwealth Games, and has continuously kept abreast of developments involving him and strongly supported all decisions and assistance for him,” they said.
The statement also said Azizul had informed the NSC that he had begun planning for the 2028 Olympics but had yet to finalise his plans during a meeting with Road to Gold Programme head Akmal Ahmad Zainuddin, Podium Programme head Halif Asro Ramzi Sulaiman and National Sports Institute Sports Science Division head Mohd Izham Mohamad on Aug 13.
The NSC said Azizul had raised several key elements he required at the meeting, with the council expressing their agreement to all his requests and several additional requests, while the minutes of the meeting were shared with the NSC and Youth and Sports Ministry top management.
The meeting also further strengthened support for Azizul, with the proposed provision of grants to him to continue as in previous practice, while the NSC agreed that all participation in major competitions, such as the Asian Cycling Championships and World Cycling Championships, would be funded by the NSC as a team.
"The minister also immediately brought up the matter of the plans and requirements to continue providing full support to Azizul at the NSC Board of Management meeting on Aug 13, and received the agreement of all NSC board members at the same meeting.
"Subsequently, an email was sent to Azizul on Aug 27 to enable the outcome of the discussions to be finalised. The purpose was for Azizul to submit a complete programme plan together with estimated expenditure to secure the NSC allocation,” it said.
"Once we receive Azizul’s response, the NSC will then be able to carry out the necessary steps and processes to secure the allocation for him throughout the qualification campaign, in accordance with the plan presented under the Olympic pathway previously,” it said.
The NSC also expressed surprise at coach John Beasley’s remarks that no discussions had been held regarding Azizul’s future plans, when the athlete had agreed that the announcement of the training programme for the Olympics would only be made jointly by him and the NSC after the World Cycling Championships in Shanghai, China, from Oct 14-18.
Azizul had issued a nine-page statement yesterday detailing the qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, while also explaining his position on the future of his career.
He said the statement was to address the questions that had been on his mind, as well as to seek clear answers from the Youth and Sports Ministry and the NSC regarding his position in Malaysia’s mission to LA28. - Bernama
