KUALA LUMPUR – National track cycling star Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has sought clarity from the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and National Sports Council (MSN) on whether Malaysia still needs his services for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).
In a nine-page statement posted on Instagram yesterday, Mohd Azizulhasni explained the LA28 qualification process and outlined his position on the future of his career.
“The situation now is not really about whether I want to continue racing towards LA28 or not. The question is whether Malaysia still needs my services for LA28,” he said in the statement.
He said certainty on the matter was crucial to enable him to make detailed plans for training, competitions and commitments involving his family and sponsors.
On the LA28 qualification process, Mohd Azizulhasni said riders would have to compete over two seasons, with each season comprising one World Championships, one Continental Championships and three World Cup events.
Mohd Azizulhasni said only the world’s top eight teams would qualify for the team sprint, while the individual keirin and sprint events would be limited to the world’s top 30 riders.
“For the individual events, only the world’s top 30 riders will qualify for the keirin and sprint,” he said.
Mohd Azizulhasni said he is currently ranked 14th in the world after coming out of retirement and believes he can improve his position with consistent performances over the next two seasons.
He stressed that money was not his main demand, saying he was prepared to secure private support and compete as a fully professional athlete if necessary.
“If that makes things easier, I am prepared to compete entirely as a professional without receiving grants from KBS and MSN. Those funds can be channelled to other riders,” he said.
Mohd Azizulhasni said his priority was a support system capable of ensuring that his preparation and recovery were maintained at the highest level.
Mohd Azizulhasni also proposed a hybrid training arrangement, dividing his time between Melbourne and Malaysia according to his training, competition and sponsorship commitments.
At the same time, he called for a written agreement on athletes’ rights to qualification points they have accumulated, to prevent situations where athletes are used to collect points before their prospects later change.
He added that the nine-page statement was his effort to address questions that had long been on his mind and to seek clear answers from KBS and MSN on his place in Malaysia’s LA28 mission.