Malaysia pins hopes on sprint trio for golden start in 2023 ACC

NILAI – National cyclists are expected to capitalise on their home ground advantage when the 2023 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) begin at the National Velodrome here tomorrow.

With 2024 Paris Olympics qualifying points at stake, the national squad, led by 2017 keirin world champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, must put on a gritty display in front of the home fans and overcome the challenges posed by more than 500 riders from all over the world.

Malaysia could win their first gold medal on the first day through the sprint trio of Mohd Fadhil Mohd Zonis, Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom, and Umar Hasbullah.

The second day of the championships will see Azizulhasni, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, and Fadhil take to the track in search of a place in the finals of the sprint and keirin events, which will be held on Friday (June 16) and Sunday (June 18).

Fadhil, who holds the Asian record in the one-kilometre time trial event, has a chance to add to the glitter of gold in the national camp when he competes in his pet event on the final day of the competition on Monday (June 19) and thus improve on his silver medal feat in the previous edition.

All eyes will also be on rising star Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, who is considered a champion in the making, to show her true colours by retaining her title in the 500m time trial on Monday.

Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Abu Samah Abd Wahab said the solid support of home fans and the home venue could very well be the determining factors for the success of the national riders. 

“I believe that all the national cyclists, especially Azizulhasni, Shah Firdaus Sahrom, and Fadhil, are in their best shape. I pray that all our riders will succeed in meeting their targets.

“I really hope Azizulhasni, Shah Firdaus Sahrom, and Fadhil can collect the maximum points for the Olympics qualifiers. I feel that all parties, including the Youth and Sports Ministry and National Sports Council, have played their roles,” he said in a statement.

On paper, Malaysia will again be counting on Azizulhasni and Shah Firdaus Sahrom to qualify for the Olympics in Paris after they featured in the 2020 Tokyo edition.

Azizulhasni, who also competed in the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio Olympics, is seen as the leading prospect to deliver the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Paris next year.

Known as the Pocket Rocketman due to his diminutive size, the 35-year-old from Dungun, Terengganu bagged a bronze medal in Rio and a silver medal in Tokyo in the keirin event.

At the 2022 ACC in New Delhi, India, Malaysia competed without Azizulhasni, who was then recovering from heart surgery, and returned home with one gold, three silvers, and a bronze.

Tickets for the 2023 ACC, priced at RM30 (daily) for adults and RM15 (daily) for children, can be purchased here. – Bernama, June 13, 2023