Asia Games 2026: Confident Despite Competition From Japan, China - Azizulhasni

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- The success of winning the keirin event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games has strengthened the confidence of national track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, especially in facing Japanese and Chinese riders.

The 38-year-old rider said the opportunity to return to chasing success at the 2026 Asian Games remains open if he can undergo thorough preparations without facing any problems or injuries.

The 2017 keirin world champion's confidence is also based on his experience at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games when he successfully defeated Japanese rider, Tomohiro Fukaya to win the individual sprint gold, in addition to taking home the team sprint silver and keirin bronze.

“I think if there are no issues, no problems, no injuries and we can make solid preparations, the Asian Games will not be a big problem. Of course it will not be easy because we know that Japan and China are the biggest contenders and their riders are also world-class.

“But if we look back at how I fought in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, even though the Japanese and Chinese riders were the main favorites, when I can give my best performance, I can win,” he told Bernama recently.

In the 2018 edition, Azizulhasni defeated Fukaya in two final races to win the individual sprint gold at the Jakarta International Velodrome.

He also helped the national squad, which consisted of Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis, win the team sprint silver after losing to China in the final, before closing the campaign with a keirin bronze.

Azizulhasni, however, missed out on the opportunity to defend his title at the Hangzhou 2022 edition which took place in 2023 after being involved in an accident while training at the National Velodrome, Nilai ahead of the Games.

“I was just disappointed in Hangzhou because I couldn't go. "A week before that I had an accident and due to an injury, I was unable to compete there," he said, who also won gold in the keirin event in the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China.

At the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games last month, the rider nicknamed 'The Pocket Rocketman' ended his final campaign at the Games in style when he finally won the keirin gold at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The victory also added to Azizulhasni's illustrious collection, having previously emerged as the keirin world champion in 2017 and won bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics and silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the same event.

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games are scheduled to be held from Sept 19 to Oct 4 in Japan.

-- BERNAMA