Azizulhasni racing against time to be fit for C’wealth Games
N I LA I : Newly crowned National Sportsman for 2017 Azizulhasni Awang is racing against time to be fully fit for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, which is only three weeks away.
The 30-year-old suffered a viral infection after he arrived in Apeldoorn, Holland, for the Track Cycling World Championships early this month and was not at his best to defend his men’s keirin title.
Azizul, who lost in the first round, said he was still unable to train at high intensity as his body is still weak from the recent illness.
“I tried to go all out in training but I became weak very fast. I had to reduce my training intensity.
“It has disrupted our training programme and I am worried as the Commonwealth Games is around the corner.
“But there is nothing we can do,” said the Rio Olympic bronze medallist.
Azizul said he can only pray and hope to recover faster to make a strong bid in the Commonwealth Games, which is one of his main goals this year.
“It won’t help for me to be negative. I can only focus on the positive aspects like getting good treatment at National Sports Institute and having enough rest,” he added.
Azizul, who will compete in the individual sprint and keirin, has yet to win gold in the Commonwealth Games.
The Dungun-born cyclist came in first in the keirin final ahead of teammate Josiah Ng in his Games debut in New Delhi, India, but was disqualified later for a technical infringement. He still got a bronze in the team sprint with Josiah and Rizal Tisin.
Azizul claimed bronze in the keirin in the last edition in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2014 – the only medal won in cycling for Malaysia.