KUALA LUMPUR - “Only time will tell," replied national track cyclist Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis, when asked if he would be able to one day take up the mantle from national cycling champion, Mohd Azizulhasni Awang.
However, the 24-year-old who recently won the gold in the keirin and silver in the 1km time trial event at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Track Cycling Nations Cup in Hong Kong, said he would not think of the matter too much, and instead focus on improving his performance.
“Everyone has their own advantages, and Mohd Azizulhasni has been my idol as well. I am just focusing on the process to become a more mature rider,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He said a message from Mohd Azizulhasni telling him to give 100 per cent commitment and stay focused prior to the race in Hong Kong also inspired him to do well at the competition.
On Saturday (May 15) Muhammad Fadhil rocked the Hong Kong Velodrome with a time of 10.298s to emerge as keirin champion, edging out two Japanese riders, namely 2020 World Championship silver medalist and four-time Asian Champion Yuta Wakimoto as well as 2019 World Championship silver medalist Yudai Nitta, who respectively won silver and bronze.
A day earlier, the Sime Darby Foundation rider, who is also the national and Asian record holder in the 1km time trial, won the silver medal in the event.
He clocked in with a time of 1 minute 1.772s, 0.998s behind German gold medalist Felix Grob, while Spanish rider Juan Peralta took home the bronze.
Mohd Azizulhasni, who is known as the 'The Pocket Rocketman' in a post on Instagram said he believed that Muhammad Fadhil and Anis Amira Rosidi - who won bronze in the women's 500m time trial last Saturday - have the potential to go further, besides having the discipline, dedication and humility to carve out successful careers for themselves.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Fadhil said winning two medals in Hong Kong had never crossed his mind after the long hiatus from competitive action, and his original mission was just to gain enough experience in the tournament.
He also dreams of making his first appearance at the Olympics in Paris, France in 2024, after missing out on the Games in Tokyo, which is scheduled to take place July 23-Aug 8. - Bernama, May 18, 2021
