Legacy fuels his fire

PETALING JAYA: Even after achieving so much in a career spanning 18 years, national track cycling icon Azizulhasni Awang (pic) is still not satisfied.

The disappointment of his disqualification from the keirin event at the 2024 Paris Olympics left the “Pocket Rocketman” struggling to find peace after stepping away from the sport.

“I would wake up every day feeling dissatisfied. I felt that something was unfinished,” said Azizul at the National Sports Incentive Scheme (Shakam) presentation ceremony on Tuesday, where he received RM180,000.

“In Paris, I didn’t really get to race.

“I couldn’t show what I was capable of.

“That is why I made a comeback.”

The 38-year-old has since turned that heartache into a remarkable return, collecting two golds and a bronze across the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games over the past four months.

“It is a very good ending to my career at both Games. There won’t be any more appearances after this at the Asian Games or the Commonwealth Games. That is going to be the last one.”

But one chapter remains open – the Olympics.

Having won bronze at Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2020, Azizul still has an elusive gold to chase at Los Angeles 2028, which would mark his sixth Olympic appearance.

“If you ask me now, the Olympics is about sealing my legacy.

Well rewarded: Azizulhasni Awang and Abdul Latif Romly at the National Sports Incentive Scheme presentation ceremony. — Bernama

“It will be my sixth edition and I want to find the best possible ending for myself, whatever the result.”

He will approach that pursuit with lessons learned from Paris, where the weight of expectation compounded the pain of his premature exit.

“There was pressure on me as the most senior athlete and the one who had competed in the most Olympics.

“People were looking for someone to carry those hopes and make a promise about winning gold,” said Azizul.

“So I accepted that challenge. But when we didn’t achieve it, I was blamed for all sorts of things.

“It wasn’t something I wanted to happen. But it is part of sport and the journey.”

This time, Azizul is keeping his immediate ambitions firmly on qualification.

“For the next Olympics, I want to take it one step at a time. Just try to qualify first.”

“It is a long process over two years. So right now, the focus is on collecting points to make sure I qualify.”

He will be 40 when the Los Angeles Games arrive, but the desire that brought him back remains – to give himself the ending he felt Paris denied him.