KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — National track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang is considering joining the Road To Gold (RTG) programme as a mentor, possibly in the next one or two years but not immediately.
The Pocket Rocketman said he planned to join the RTG committee with athletes like Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Nicol Ann David.
“Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), and the National Sports Council (NSC); they are hoping that I can still be under RTG.
“For me, if I am in the RTG programme (as an athlete), it is my responsibility and I am not going to just stay there for nothing, I have to achieve my key performance indicators (KPIs). That is why I need to take some time to think about what is the next plan.
“I do not see myself joining (the programme as a mentor) right now, maybe in one or two years. At the moment, I think not going to be under the RTG Board members yet,” he told the press after the launch of CIMB’s ‘Kita Bagi Jadi’ Campaign at Menara CIMB yesterday.
The 36-year-old cyclist has previously said he plans to take a break after competing in the final men’s keirin event at the 2024 Paris Olympics last month and indicated he would take time before deciding on his plans.
“Now I am in a rest phase after the Olympics, so I have till the end of the year to come up with a new plan. KBS and NSC have always been supportive of my career, and they want to discuss my future after this.
“I do not want to rush into making a decision because it is about the future, so I will take my time. Right now, my focus is on resting both physically and mentally.
Usually, after a tournament, we as athletes rest physically, but this time I need to rest both physically and mentally,” Azizulhasni said.
His participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics came to an abrupt end when he was disqualified in the first heat of the men’s keirin event for overtaking the derny before it left the track at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on August 10.
The disqualification ended Azizulhasni’s hopes of securing an Olympic gold medal in what would have been his final appearance at the Games.
— Bernama
