Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, part of the Malaysian track cycling team, begins his quest for medals at the Olympic 2024 in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines today.
He needs to pay serious attention to the tactical play of the opposing team’s riders.
Opponents such as 13-time World Championships gold medalist Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland from the Netherlands, Jack Carlin (Britain), Matthew Glaetzer (Australia), as well as Japanese racers Yuta Obara and Kaiya Ota, possess not only physical prowess but also strategic movement and tactics, as demonstrated in the men’s keirin final race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Strategies involving positioning, speed setting, and sudden acceleration can prevent a racer from securing a podium finish. After missing out on the gold medal at Tokyo 2020, Azizul, known as The Pocket Rocketman, carries the heavy burden of the country’s expectations for its first Olympic gold medal.
“I am aware of the burden on Azizul, who is expected to produce our first gold, but as a world-class athlete, he is able to handle the pressure,” said Malaysian Cycling National Federation (PKBM) Deputy President Datuk Amarjit Singh.
“The team has made good preparations, with several days of training on the Olympic track. The mood in the Malaysian track cycling team is cheerful and positive. They are excited to start the race,” he said.
Keirin silver medalist Azizul and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom will compete in the sprint events from today to Friday (7-9 August), while Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, participating in the Olympics for the first time, will compete in the women’s keirin event today and tomorrow.
Nurul Izzah will then take part in the women’s sprint event from Friday to Sunday. Azizul and Shah Firdaus, who are also 2017 world keirin champions, will compete in their favorite event, the men’s keirin, on Saturday and Sunday.
Amarjit, who is also a member of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Management Committee, hopes that Shah Firdaus will become a strong teammate for The Pocket Rocketman, delivering his best performance.
“I also think Nurul Izzah has done her best. She is a disciplined racer, and I believe she still has a long way to go, participating in the Olympic Games after this, such as in Los Angeles 2028. Paris will be a good experience and exposure at the highest level for her.
“I ask all Malaysians to pray together for the success of our racers in Paris,” he said.
Source : BERNAMA
Credit Photo : OCM
