KUALA LUMPUR – It was a close call for Datuk Azizulhasni Awang as the track cycling star revealed today that he was involved in a freak accident during training recently.
The 2020 Olympics silver medallist shared a 35-second video of the incident on Twitter, saying that the crash was caused by a mechanical failure.
In the clip, the cyclist popularly called the “Pocket Rocketman” is seen going at high speed before seeming to soar as he navigates a corner while chasing a motorcycle during his training session.
He assured that, luckily, the crash did not result in any serious injuries.
“The crash happened at the first corner of the velodrome at top speed when I was doing my speed effort chasing the motorbike.
“I feel grateful that this accident did not get any worse. It could have led to a severe injury.
“Any accident that happens in this particular situation is not a joke,” he said.
The 35-year-old was preparing ahead of the Asian Games in Hangzhou from September 26 to 29.
At the last Asiad held in Jakarta and Palembang in 2018, he won a gold medal in the sprint and silver in the team sprint, as well as a keirin bronze.
The incident would be his second crash at a velodrome after the 2011 World Cup when his calf was skewered by a 20-cm splinter, though the cycling star eventually got back on his bike to finish third. — September 16, 2023