Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang's Olympic program status awaits performance review

The future of Malaysian track cycling star Datuk Azizulhasni Awang in the Road to Gold (RTG) program hangs in the balance, pending a thorough performance review after the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The RTG program, designed to support athletes aiming for the Olympics, will re-evaluate its entire roster of athletes as they approach the critical qualifying year for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Datuk Stuart Ramalingam, RTG Project Coordinator, explained that the post-Asian Games meeting will serve as a "post-mortem" on the athletes' performance throughout the year. "It's indeed the end of a cycle, so the next meeting will be like a post-mortem on the performance throughout the year, the athletes' achievements, and also the plans for next year. Next year is very important because it is the Olympic qualifying year for many sports," he stated.

This comprehensive assessment opens the door for potential changes within the RTG list. Each athlete's position will be scrutinized based on their achievements and adherence to established criteria. Ramalingam emphasized that decisions regarding athlete inclusion or exclusion are part of a structured process. "We don't sit down just to discuss one person because we are a group, a structure, and a program that needs to follow its process. There are working papers and processes that need to be followed before a decision on inclusion or exclusion is made," he added.

Azizulhasni, nicknamed "The Pocket Rocketman," previously reignited hopes for an LA 2028 campaign by winning the keirin gold at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games after a 16-year wait. The Malaysian National Cycling Federation President had urged for his immediate reinstatement into the RTG program. However, Ramalingam maintained that Azizulhasni, like all other athletes, must undergo the same evaluation process. "I am very open to seeing Datuk Azizulhasni accepted back if he meets the set criteria. Personally, I hope he is accepted back into RTG according to the set criteria," he said. The Asian Games are scheduled from September 23 to October 4, followed by the Olympic qualifying season starting with the World Championships in Shanghai from October 14 to 18.