KUALA LUMPUR – With only five days left before the Paris Olympics draws its curtain, the Malaysian contingent still have a few more athletes in contention.
After the national badminton team missed out on delivering Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal in Paris, the nation is now passing the baton to track cyclist Datuk Azizulhasni Awang to end the 68-year wait.
While athletes like Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Rhodict Benedict Lises (diving), Aniq Kasdan (weightlifting), and Ashley Lau (golf) are yet to compete, Azizulhasni remains the brightest hope for ending Malaysia’s medal drought.
For national head coach John Beasley, ensuring that not only Azizulhasni but also his other two cyclists, Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nur Izzah Izzati Asri are in top condition is a top priority with their events kicking off on August 7.
Azizulhasni and Shah will compete in the qualifying rounds of the sprint event, while Izzah, the only female cyclist from Malaysia, will participate in the first round of the keirin event.
“It’s very important that if you want to excel at anything, you must give your best every single day. What I can tell you is that these three riders leave no stone unturned each day.
“Whether they end up on the top spot of the podium in Paris or not, believe me, they have given their all in their journey.
“From my point of view, I don’t want anyone to set unrealistic expectations for them. You know how we operate, we always give our very best, and we will continue to do so.
“We will do everything we can to achieve the best possible outcome and reach our goals,” said Beasley.
Azizul’s main focus will undoubtedly be the keirin event, scheduled for the last day of the Olympics, August 11.
He hopes to overcome the disappointment of settling for a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Two days ago, the nation’s top badminton prospects fell short of securing the coveted gold medal.
Men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik redeemed their earlier disappointment by winning the bronze medal, replicating their achievement in Tokyo, with a remarkable comeback against Kim Astrup and Anders Skarrup Rasmussen.
Professional men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia also clinched bronze yesterday after defeating India’s Lakshya Sen. – August 6, 2024