KUALA LUMPUR — National track cycling icon Datuk Azizulhasni Awang’s will pursue a final Olympic appearance after the National Sports Council (NSC) and Youth and Sports Ministry confirmed their backing for his Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) campaign.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) said the NSC had confirmed its support for the 38-year-old cyclist in a letter dated Aug 30, paving the way for him to continue his pursuit of Olympic qualification.
According to MNCF, Azizulhasni will be included in the Road to Gold (RTG) programme, which is reserved for the country’s top-performing athletes, while also receiving support under the NSC Podium programme.
“In its letter dated Aug 30, NSC confirmed its support for Azizulhasni to be among the national track cyclists tasked with securing Olympic qualification points towards LA28, alongside athletes under the Road to Gold (RTG) and NSC Podium programmes,” said MNCF in a statement today.
The federation added that the Youth and Sports Ministry had directed the NSC to ensure continuity in the national track cycling qualification campaign for the 2028 Olympics.
“This decision has cleared the path for Azizulhasni’s LA28 mission, particularly in terms of the high-performance support, training programme and competition exposure required for Olympic qualification,” it said.
Azizulhasni, who has previously indicated that he was ready to retire from competitive cycling, had made it clear that he would only continue until LA28 if the authorities required his services.
He had also called on the NSC and ministry to make a firm decision on his future so that he could plan his Olympic qualification campaign accordingly.
The uncertainty had become a major talking point in Malaysian cycling, with Azizulhasni expressing frustration over the lack of a clear decision from the authorities.
MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill welcomed the NSC’s decision, describing it as an important development for both Azizulhasni and the country’s Olympic ambitions.
“We are therefore extremely pleased that the Government and NSC have responded positively.
“This is an important decision not only for Azizulhasni, but also for Malaysian cycling and our country’s ambitions at LA28,” said Amarjit, who is also a UCI vice-president.
Azizulhasni’s continued involvement comes at a time when the veteran cyclist remains in impressive form despite his age.
He emerged as the overall keirin champion in the UCI World Cup series after claiming two gold medals this season, defeating some of the biggest names in the sport, including Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen and Great Britain’s Matthew Richardson.
He then added another major achievement by winning keirin gold at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, finally securing the title that had eluded him throughout his career.
With an Olympic keirin bronze from Rio 2016 and silver from Tokyo 2020 already in his collection, the only major prize missing from Azizulhasni’s glittering palmares is an Olympic gold medal.
In an immediate reaction, Azizulhasni spoke emotionally on social media about the inner turmoil he faced at the uncertainty, and expressed gratitude at being given another chance to represent the country.
“A million thanks to everyone, especially the public who has stood firmly behind me, even though I was weak. Thank you to the sports ministry and the National sports council who for the chance to fulfil the people’s mandate,” he said, pledging to give his best for the country. – August 31, 2026