KUALA LUMPUR: After going through a tough couple of seasons, national track cycling team head coach Harnizam Basri is hoping to help Fadhil Zonis rediscover his form next year.
Fadhil broke the one kilometre time trial national record at the Berlin World Championships in 2020 and grabbed headlines after winning the keirin gold and time trial silver at the Hong Kong Nations Cup in 2021 but has since struggled with injuries and illness.
The 26-year-old showed glimpses of his potential by winning the time trial gold at the Asian Championships in Nilai last year but was some way off his national record time (1:00.305s).
Harnizam believes Fadhil is determined to get back to his best.
"We want to get him back to being the Fadhil of old," said Harnizam recently.
"He has not been resting on his laurels, it is just that he has struggled with a number of injuries and also became a father recently.
"But he looks motivated now and said he aims to break his personal best at the Asian Championships.
"He wants to go under one minute and he is determined to do it."
Fadhil did not defend his time trial gold at the Asian Championships in New Delhi earlier this year, he was forced to withdraw from the event after picking up a virus.
Fadhil has had limited opportunities to ride in the keirin and individual sprint at major international competitions over the years as he had been third in the pecking order behind Azizulhasni Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom.