Azizul grateful for generous allocation for sports

SEPANG: National track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang has expressed his gratitude to the government for the generous allocation for sports under the Budget 2019.

A sum of RM100mil will be allocated to prepare the athletes to win the elusive Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2020.

Another RM10mil will be allocated to help promote and develop e-Sports in the country.

The budget will also cover the preparation for the Philippines SEA Games in December next year.

“On behalf of the national athletes, we are very grateful for the time and effort spent on the planning for next year,” said Azizul who bagged his second-career Asian Games gold medal in Indonesia in August.

“From my personal opinion, the budget presented is fascinating since I’m in the midst of preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“It provides the extra incentive to athletes to realise their dreams and potentially create opportunities for Malaysia to win the first gold medal at the Olympics.

Azizul, the 2017 world champion in keirin, is hopeful of improving on the colour of Olympic medal in Tokyo after taking a historic bronze in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.

Indonesia Asian Games silver medallist sailor Khairulnizam Afendy also welcomed the government’s allocation.