Back on familiar turf
Azizulhasni trains for Asiad at National Velodrome in Nilai
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang has returned home to train in his quest to win a second Asian Games gold medal in Indonesia next month.
And the 30-year-old, who is training at the National Velodrome in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, is doing all he can to ensure he stays healthy in the next five weeks before leaving for Jakarta.
Azizul caught a viral infection during the Track Cycling World Championships in Holland at the end of February and could not recover in time to be in his best condition for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.
He managed to make the keirin final in Gold Coast but finished sixth.
Azizul ended a 38-year-old gold medal drought in cycling when he beat teammate Josiah Ng to claim the keirin title at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010. However, he failed to defend the gold after he was relegated in the keirin final in Incheon, South Korea, four years later.
“It was unfortunate that I came down with viral fever in Europe just before the Commonwealth Games.
“At that time, Europe was experiencing severe cold weather. I am pleased that our training camp is in Nilai where the weather and location would be ideal for our training.
“I place very big importance in practising good hygiene to protect myself from any infectious disease, which could affect my state of health.
“I am also taking care of my diet and I am taking supplements. As a professional athlete, I need to take the right type and amount of vitamins and supplements to protect and boost my immune system, and to ensure that my body is able to recover quickly,” said the 2017 world keirin champion cyclist, who will ride the team sprint, keirin and sprint.
Azizul will take a break from training to attend the CIMB Cycle at Sepang International Circuit this Saturday where he is their brand ambassador.
“I am a part of the CIMB family and I will always try my very best to participate and support their initiatives.
“As a professional and national athlete, I am here to motivate Malaysians to excel not only in sports but also motivate them to do the best in whatever they do in life.”
He also shared his experience of his involvement in last year’s CIMB Cycle at Seri Menanti, Negri Sembilan.
“It was indeed a good platform for me to engage and ride with my fans, CIMB staff and customers, not to mention I also had the opportunity to cycle with the Negri Sembilan royal family.”