Hannah Yeoh, Minister for Youth and Sports expressed confidence Dato’ Azizulhasni Awang, Malaysia’s track cyclist will deliver an outstanding performance at the Olympic 2024.
The Malaysian contingent is now focusing on the track cycling event for their first Olympic gold after securing two bronze medals in badminton.
Hannah, addressing Malaysian media in Paris, emphasized her trust in Azizul’s commitment and maturity, known affectionately as The Pocket Rocketman.
“He has expressed his desire to hunt for gold. I don’t think there is any issue of pressure because we all know about his ambition from the start. We will support any athlete with such determination.” Hannah said.
To support Azizul, the Road to Gold (RTG) program has increased its efforts. An expert from the National Heart Institute (IJN), Prof Datuk Seri Jeffrey Jeswant Dillon, has been brought in to monitor Azizul’s health. “With the support provided by RTG, I believe Azizul will be at his best in Paris,”
Hannah also commended the badminton squad’s fighting spirit and hoped other athletes would also perform their best in Paris. She noted a significant improvement in the mental strength of athletes under the RTG program.
Jeffrey Jeswant assured that Azizul’s health, following his open-heart surgery in April 2022, is in top condition. “He has recovered remarkably well since the surgery, achieving his goals as both an ordinary person and an elite athlete. We have monitored him thoroughly, and he is at an optimal level of health,” he said.
Azizul, 36, underwent surgery for a rare heart condition known as anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (AAORCA). Tomorrow, Azizul, the silver medalist in men’s keirin at Tokyo 2020, and Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom will begin their campaign in the sprint event, while Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri will compete for the first time in women’s keirin.
Source : BERNAMA
Credit Photo : OCM
