KUALA LUMPUR: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang confirmed he will not return to action at the Asian Championships in Nilai in February.
Instead, the two-time Olympic medallist, widely known as the Pocket Rocketman, assured that he would still be attending the event at the Nilai Velodrome to support and assists the national cyclists.
"It's time for me to offer moral support and contribute in any other way I can," he said.
"As I mentioned after the Olympic baton was passed, we now have Shah Firdaus Sahrom, his brother Ridwan, as well as Fadhil Zhonis, and other promising young cyclists.
"I hope that they will continue to progress ahead of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," he added when met recently.
Last month, Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill hinted that the 36-year-old might still participate in the Asian Championships.
He mentioned that the former world keirin champion remains in a competitive mindset, and still has the desire to ride.
However, Azizulhasni stressed that his priority now is completing his Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, with just one year left before graduation.
While he has not ruled out a return to cycling, he has yet to set a specific time frame for his comeback.
"I met with the MNCF committee, and they encouraged me to participate in the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games. But I told them I can't make any promises," he explained.
"We will wait until 2024 is over, as it has been a challenging year. We see what 2025 brings," he added.
Azizulhasni has taken an extended break since the Paris Olympics in August.
However, his Paris campaign ended on a sour note after being disqualified from the keirin — his pet event. –BERNAMA