NILAI – Will Datuk Muhammad Azizulhasni Awang be able to repeat his two-gold feat at the 2008 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC) in the sprint and keirin when this year’s edition kicks off at the National Velodrome in Nilai tomorrow?
The 35-year-old track cycling ace, who also bagged the sprint and keirin golds and team sprint silver in Nara, Japan 15 years ago, is gunning for at least one title this time, which offers valuable qualification points for the Paris Olympics.
The 2017 keirin world champion, who is the country’s most successful rider in the ACC with 10 gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals, hopes to capitalise on home advantage to accomplish his mission.
“So far, everything is going really well. I won’t say I am at my peak now but, judging from my performance in the recent Hong Kong International Track Cup, I am (heading) in the right direction. My target is at least one gold, but if I can win both (gold medals in the sprint and keirin) then good.
“I am very excited because the ACC is back in Malaysia (for the first time since 2018)... in front of the home crowd. It’s not every time we get this opportunity. Hopefully, the solid support of the fans will boost my spirit on race day,” he said today.
The “Pocket Rocketman,” as the pint-sized Azizulhasni is known, will start his campaign on Thursday in the sprint qualifying and early rounds, followed by the semi-finals and final on Friday, and the keirin on Sunday.
Azizulhasni hopes the day’s rest on Saturday will help in his recovery and boost his energy to challenge for the keirin gold.
Although the keirin is his pet event, the Dungun-born rider has won six of his 10 ACC gold medals in the sprint, with three more from keirin and one from the team sprint.
“Usually, the events are held back-to-back and, sometimes, on the same day. After competing in the sprint, which drains our energy, we are not at 100% the next day and anything can happen in the keirin, like being blocked (by other riders or crashes).
“Having a day’s rest, I think, is going to help a lot. However, we are prepared and are used to the tight schedules during tournaments. At least, we are prepared for it – mentally and physically,” he said.
Talking about the challenges in the ACC, Azizulhasni named riders from Japan and China as the strongest contenders, especially Japan’s rising stars Shinji Nakano and Kaiya Ota.
Apart from Azizulhasni, Malaysia will also be banking on the likes of Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Mohd Fadhil Mohd Zonis for the glitter of gold at the ACC.
Meanwhile, Nakano, 24, has declared that he will give it his all to make it tough for home favourite Azizulhasni in the keirin.
“This is an important competition for the Paris Olympics. So, obviously, I want to win and this is one of our practice competitions. Azizul and Shah Firdaus are very strong, they will be my strongest opponents... so, I will do my best to beat them.
“Yes, this is their home ground and they’re used to this velodrome but I hope we will be able to get used to it too. We also didn’t experience any jet lag coming from Japan, so I think I can win,” said Nakano, who arrived here on Sunday.
Nakano’s warning cannot be taken lightly by the national riders, especially after the Japanese proved his mettle by winning the UCI Nation’s Cup keirin title in Cairo, Egypt in March. – Bernama, June 13, 2023
