KUALA LUMPUR – “If he chooses to, he can make a real change for sports in Malaysia.”
These were the words of national cycling technical director John Beasley when asked about Datuk Azizulhasni Awang’s future following his disqualification from the men’s keirin event at the Paris Olympics last night.
Beasley, who has been like a father figure to the 36-year-old Azizul, mentioned that the Pocket Rocketman intends to continue racing for another two years, even though the Paris Olympics marked his international retirement.
“This is the end; he has now retired. He’s exhausted, having dedicated 17 years to a long and illustrious career.
“He will now move on to the next chapter of his life. He has four beautiful daughters and only six more subjects to complete his university studies.
“He wants to continue racing his bike for the next two years, just keirin and having fun. Perhaps in those two years, he will complete his remaining subjects.
“I see potential for him in management, but that’s just my selfish goal for him.
“He needs to find a new passion that will motivate him to get out of bed and pursue it. He has the potential to make a real difference in Malaysian sports, but it must come from within him,” said Beasley to the Olympic Council of Malaysia, who also revealed that he has been granted permanent residency by the Malaysian government.
Beasley, who joined the national cycling team in 2006, is confident that Azizul and the rest of the Malaysian track cycling team will overcome this unfortunate event.
However, Beasley emphasised the importance of the general public understanding of high-performance sports and refrained from placing blame, particularly on individuals like Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, when outcomes are not as expected.
“I hope the public will be kind towards Hannah; she has provided more support than we anticipated. A great deal was provided for us in preparation for this Olympics.
“As I’ve mentioned before, we arrived in the best shape and form, even breaking the national record in the men’s sprint. All of this is thanks to her.
“However, the public doesn’t fully understand high-performance sports. While we always remain humble, we came here to win. We are not losers who are here to make up the numbers.
“The athletes dedicate their lives, often being away from their families. I’m sure no one is more disappointed than Azizul himself.
“My job is to support the team. They have been outstanding, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
“We will overcome this, and Malaysia will move forward,” added Beasley, who will now focus more on training younger coaches.
Last night, Azizul suffered a major setback in his fifth and final Olympics when he was disqualified in the first-round heats at the Saint Quentin en Yvelines Velodrome for a technical infringement.
Azizul, who won bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games, was penalised for overtaking the derny (motorbike) before it left the track.
When asked about Azizul’s immediate plans, Beasley simply said: “He will fly back to Melbourne. Let’s give him some time to be with his family first.” – August 11, 2024