Battling heart inflammation, Dato’ Mohd Azizulhasni Awang secures the gold medal at the UCI Track Nations Cup against Japanese rivals and sets his sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics
Malaysian cycling sensation Dato’ Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has clinched a jaw-dropping victory in the opening leg of the UCI Track Nations Cup held in Adelaide, Australia.
Known affectionately as the Pocket Rocketman, Azizul’s win comes despite the athlete not being in his peak condition. After battling pericarditis, swelling and inflammation of the heart tissue, and undergoing heart surgery in 2022, he stepped onto the velodrome with determination etched in every pedal stroke.
As the finish line loomed, Azizul unleashed a burst of power, clocking an impressive 9.910 seconds to leave his Japanese rivals Shinji Nakano and Ota Kaiya trailing in his wake. Reigning world champion Harrie Lavreysen was absent from the race.
Read more: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Azizulhasni Awang, the perfect silver storm
Azizul’s journey to victory started with a lightning-fast, 9.784-second sprint in the first round. This guaranteed him a spot in the second round, where he competed alongside Australian speedster Matthew Richardson and China’s Xue Chenxi.
In the climactic final round, Azizul’s experience paid off. Timing his acceleration to perfection, he surged ahead of his competitors despite starting from the rails. This triumph marks his maiden Track Nations Cup keirin win—a fitting prelude to his charge at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Azizul’s impressive track record includes 12 gold medals at the Asian Track Cycling Championships and a silver in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.