Azizul staying sharp
Cyclist takes cautious approach for Asian Championships
While a seventh Asian Cycling Championships gold medal is Azizul’s target, he remains focused on rebuilding his form with the London Olympics the utmost priority.
The 24-year old showed glimpses of his true form in the second round of the UCI World Cup in Cali, Colombia on Dec 1-3 where he registered fifth placed finishes in the keirin and 200m sprint.
That marked a return to form for Azizul after his horrific crash in the final round of the 2010-2011 World Cup in Manchester last April which left him out for three months after a wood splinter pierced through his left calf.
Malaysia managed just one gold medal, through Rizal Tisin in the 1km time trial at last year’s Asian Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Last year, Azizul settled for bronze in the keirin and did not play any part in the team sprint bronze medal trio which featured Josiah Ng, Edrus Yunos and Rizal.
He already has three Asian Junior Championships gold medals won in 2006, two gold from his first outing in the elite section in 2007, which he repeated in 2008 and one each in 2009 and 2010.
On home soil this time around, Azizul will not want to disappoint an expected huge band of supporters.
Azizul said the Melbourne-based elite squad, which includes Josiah and Fatehah Mustapa, are going through a training block to prepare for the Asian Championships, but his quest for the form that made him world number one in the keirin still continues.
“It’s getting better with time, but I’m still not at the form I want to be in,” said the 2011 Sportsman of the Year.
“I still want at least one gold medal in the Asian Championships and my target will be to make the keirin and 200m sprint finals in the final round of the World Cup in London.”
The final round of the UCI World Cup will give Azizul a chance to feel the new velodrome where track cycling will be contested in the Olympics.
Prior to that, the matter of the World Championships in Melbourne on April 4-8 needs not just to be negotiated through, but plans have always been for Azizul to peak there, and possibly push for medals.
That provides an ideal three months to assess Azizul’s form and identify what needs to be done before beginning the final phase of preparations for the London Olympics.
“We’ve definitely planned for me to peak in the World Championships.
“Each time I get back on the track, it gets better, so we’re all on track,” said Azizul.
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