KUALA LUMPUR – National track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang is capable of creating history by ending the country’s long-awaited gold drought at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
That is the confident prediction of former Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad based on the achievement of Great Britain legend Chris Foy, who won the gold medal at the age of 36 at the 2012 London Olympics.
He also said he feels the 35-year-old Pocket Rocketman has shown encouraging performances, and also dogged determination in the keirin events.
“I believe we have high hopes that Azizulhasni will create history by winning the Olympic keirin gold before he retires.
“After successfully undergoing his (heart) surgery, he has come back refreshed and revitalised. I am confident that he can bag our first Olympic gold medal (in Paris),” he told reporters after the launch of the 2023 OCBC Kuala Lumpur cycling event here today.
On February 25, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist won a silver medal in keirin at the International Cycling Union Track Nations Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The feat proves that he still packs a punch, especially since he took part in the Jakarta meet less than 12 months after undergoing heart surgery.
He, however, failed to bag another medal in the sprint event when he lost in the quarter-finals due to fatigue. – Bernama, March 9, 2023
