DistantNews
Support us
Malaysian cyclist awaits Olympic decision amid tight qualification schedule
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Sports

Malaysian cyclist awaits Olympic decision amid tight qualification schedule

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Malaysian track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang awaits a decision from the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council regarding his participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
  • The 38-year-old cyclist emphasizes the urgency of the decision, as preparations for the Olympics and qualifying events require significant lead time.
  • Awang's participation in upcoming World Championships and Asian Games is crucial for Olympic qualification points, making a timely decision essential for his training and planning.

Malaysian track cycling star Datuk Azizulhasni Awang is in limbo, awaiting a crucial decision from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and the National Sports Council (MSN) about his ambition to compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. At 38, Awang is questioning whether his services are still needed by the national team.

Do they still need my services or not?

— Datuk Azizulhasni AwangAzizulhasni Awang expresses uncertainty about his future with the national cycling team and his Olympic aspirations.

"Do they still need my services or not?" Awang pondered, highlighting the critical need for an immediate decision. He stressed that planning for the LA 2028 campaign is a lengthy process. The upcoming World Championships in Shanghai, following the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September, are vital for accumulating Olympic qualification points.

Awang explained that if his expertise is required, he needs to know promptly to plan his subsequent training and competition schedule. He noted that the period between the Asian Games and the World Championships is very short, making last-minute decisions problematic. The first World Championships after the Asian Games are particularly important as they offer the most significant points for Olympic qualification.

For me now, I am waiting for a decision from the KBS and MSN, whether they need my services because I believe this time it is not about me going to the Olympics, but whether the Malaysian team and the country need me or not.

— Datuk Azizulhasni AwangAzizulhasni Awang emphasizes that the decision should be based on the team'.s needs rather than his personal desire to compete.

"If we miss the first World Championships that offer the biggest points, the journey will not be impossible, but it will be more difficult, meaning we have to be consistently on the podium," Awang stated. He added that for individual qualification, around 30 cyclists will secure spots, requiring him to be among the world's best and accumulate points over two seasons.

If they want to wait until after the Asian Games, actually we need to know before the Asian Games because we need to plan the trip, especially this time the schedule is back-to-back.

— Datuk Azizulhasni AwangAzizulhasni Awang highlights the tight schedule and the need for an early decision for effective planning.

Currently, Awang is scheduled to undergo a four-week training camp in Brisbane, Australia, before heading to Japan for the Asian Games. However, his participation in the Shanghai World Championships remains uncertain pending the official decision.

If we miss the first World Championships that offer the biggest points, the journey will not be impossible, but it will be more difficult, meaning we have to be consistently on the podium.

— Datuk Azizulhasni AwangAzizulhasni Awang explains the consequences of missing crucial qualification events.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog