Azizulhasni opens campaign with gold in Asean track series sprint event

NILAI - National track cyclist, Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, started this season's campaign on the right foot when he topped the podium in the men's elite sprint event at the Asean Track Series (President's Cup) 1 at National Velodrome here today.

The cyclist known as "The Pocket Rocketman" won the gold medal after defeating South Korean rider, Kim Geunwoo in the final race.

Earlier, the final race saw a 1-1 draw before Azizulhasni confirmed victory in the deciding race.

Azizulhasni, who is currently competing as an independent cyclist with Team Azizul, said his success was important to face several major tournaments in the first quarter of this year as well as preparations for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

"Alhamdulillah, today's result is as I expected...it wasn't an easy path, but the support of the team and the fans here boosted my spirit on home ground.

"We have competed in New Zealand before, so today's race was a little tricky because he knew my tactics and I needed to make a few adjustments, overall it's a good race," he told reporters here today after the medal presentation ceremony here today.

The bronze medal in the event went to national rider, Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom who beat Cheuk Hei To from Hong Kong.

In other developments, Azizulhasni is confident that national rider Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom will return to action with better performance after the country's elite rider fully recovered from a right knee injury.

He said that every time he met Muhammad Shah, the rider always showed enthusiasm and was always positive to recover from the injury he suffered and wanted to return to action for the country.

"Every time we met, we would talk about how to go through the rehab process. Shah has learned a lot from me and he is really keen to get back into action, but we need to give him time because a knee injury is not something that can be taken lightly," he said.

Meanwhile, the women's elite sprint event saw the national riders dominate when Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri won the gold medal beating her teammate, Nurul Alyssa Farid, in the final race.

The bronze medal went to Anis Amira Rosidi who beat another teammate, Yong Ann Tung. - BERNAMA