KUALA LUMPUR: The national track cycling squad, which is equipped with the new version of WX-R Vorteq bikes worth RM385,800 each, will attend the Paris Olympics 2024 bearing a heavy responsibility as one of the main medal hopefuls for the Malaysian Contingent.
The focus is definitely on the 2017 keirin world champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang who is about to make his fifth appearance, to equal the frequency record on Olympic stage with former diving champion Datuk Leong Mun Yee, besides surpassing badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei who played in four editions since Athens 2004.
Based on statistics, the main medal opportunity comes through 'The Pocket Rocketman' who won a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 edition and a silver at Tokyo 2020 through his favourite event, keirin to improve his achievements by changing the color of the medal to gold this time. He had also performed in the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 editions.
However, in addition to having to show full energy cycling, the 36-year-old athlete from Dungun, Terengganu also needs to be alert to the tactics and 'tricks' of the opponent as well as his health after undergoing an open heart surgery in April 2022 due to a rare heart problem known as the anomalous aortic origin of a right coronary artery (AAORCA).
Former national rider Mohd Rizal Tisin, who competed in the team sprint event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said Mohd Azizulhasni, as the most senior and experienced athlete in the national squad, must have strategic and tactical planning after being disappointed at the Tokyo Olympics, three years ago.
"His target event, keirin is more about tactics and experience to win. Not necessarily if you are strong you can win, Azizul's advantage is his practice and know the tactical background that other riders often use.
"He needs to be more careful and not focus too much on one rider to give space to other riders. Each rider has his own strength and weaknesses, so each round needs to be focused and not pay too much attention to just one rider," he told Bernama.
At Tokyo 2020, which was held a year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mohd Azizulhasni had to settle for silver when Australia's Matthew Glaetzer did not try to catch Jason Kenny and let the Great Britain rider take the gold after doing a solo breakaway in front.
Mohd Rizal, who once served as Indonesia's national coach, said Mohd Azizulhasni should also focus on recovery after each round and not spend too much energy in the early rounds to be at his best in the finals.
Meanwhile, the new version of the WX-R Vorteq machine developed by the National Sports Institute (ISN) at a cost of RM7.50 million to upgrade from the version used in Tokyo 2020, is also expected to play a key role in determining the country's success at the National Velodrome in St Quentin-en-Yvelines, approximately 40 km from Paris.
"If we look at the differences between bicycles, suits, helmets and other equipment, many countries have done their own R&D (research and development) on bicycles and windtunnels. Although it seems simple, in terms of sports science it helps a lot.
"Even if the margin is small, it really helps a lot. We hope this better support can help our team return home with success," he said.
Apart from Mohd Azizulhasni, Malaysians should remember that it is also the opportunity for Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom to step out of the shadows of his seniors to become a dark horse in this edition, while the first appearance of Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri can be a platform to gain valuable experience or create magic for competing with other world women's cycling champions.
Mohd Azizulhasni and Muhammad Shah Firdaus will compete in the men's keirin and sprint events, while Nurul Izzah Izzati will bring the challenge in the women's keirin and sprint events when the track cycling event taking place from August 5-11.
Based on their performance over the past two years, Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands who won 13 gold medals at the World Championships, Matthew Richardson (Australia), Nicolas Paul (Trinidad and Tobago), Kevin Quintero from Colombia and two Japanese representatives, Ota Kaiya and Shinji Nakano are among the the main contender for the podium for the sprint and keirin events in Paris 2024.
Profile
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NICKNAME/TITLE: Jijoe/ The Pocket Rocketman
AGE: 36 years
ORIGIN: Dungun, Terengganu
APPEARANCE: Beijing Olympics 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020
RANKING: eighth in the world, third in Asia
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medal (keirin)
Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medal (keirin)
Gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Hong Kong