Azizul seeks double thrill in Jakarta after turning 31

PETALING JAYA: The Asian Cycling Championships starting in Jakarta today could be the crowning glory of cyclist Azizulhasni Awang (pic).

Azizul has his eyes set on achieving a rare double at the prestigious meet by winning the keirin and sprint title.

The pint-sized Azizul is hoping to ride on the momentum of his backto-back podium feat at the recent Track Cycling World Cup Series.

Azizul claimed bronze at the third leg in Berlin, Germany, last month and romped to silver in his pet keirin event in London two weeks later.

He has achieved the rare feat of winning both the sprint and keirin before – back in 2008 in Nara, Japan. But it will be a fantastic achievement if he pulls it off again at the Rawamangun Velodrome this week as he had just celebrated his 31st birthday on Jan 5.

“I’m happy with my form and power due to the physical conditioning work done in the gym before the World Cup season starts.

“It was a gradual build-up over several weeks as the main goal for me is to do well at the Asian championships and also the Track Cycling World Championships in Poland end of next month.

“These two championships offer more points for the Olympic qualification campaign for Tokyo 2020.

“The first half of the Olympic qualification has started and I want to try to get as many points to be in a comfortable position,” said Azizul, who has a chance to regain the world No. 1 ranking for keirin after this week.

“I may not need to be on the podium as I think reaching the final should be enough as I am just five points behind the top-ranked cyclist.

“But I will try to win it or at least be on the podium,” added Azizul, who took silver in sprint and bronze in keirin when Malaysia hosted the Asian meet in Nilai last year.

Azizul will also partner Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Mohd Fadhil Zonis for the team sprint where they will bid to repeat their impressive Asian Games showing.

At the Asian Games cycling held at the same venue last August, the team sprint trio claimed silver and broke the 10-year-old national record set by Azizul, Josiah Ng and Rizal Tisin back at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.