KUALA LUMPUR: National track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has announced his decision not to compete in the 2025 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC), which will be held at the National Velodrome in Nilai in February. Azizulhasni, known as ‘The Pocket Rocketman,’ stated his intention to support and assist national cyclists during the event instead.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Azizulhasni expressed his commitment to offering moral support and contributing in other ways to the national cycling team. He highlighted the presence of promising cyclists like Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Muhammad Ridwan, and Fadhil Zhonis, who are preparing for major competitions, including the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Last month, Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill suggested that Azizulhasni might still compete in the 2025 ACC, noting the athlete’s competitive mindset and desire to ride. However, Azizulhasni clarified t
hat his current priority is completing his Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, with just one year remaining before graduation.

While Azizulhasni has not entirely ruled out returning to competitive cycling, he has not set a specific timeline for his comeback. He mentioned discussions with the MNCF committee about potential participation in the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games but made no commitments, stating that 2024 has been a challenging year and that plans for 2025 are uncertain.