PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 07: Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Team Malaysia (R) celebrates as winner ahead of Hamish Turnbull of Team Great Britain (L) during the Men's Sprint 1/16 Finals on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on August 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Cover Azizulhasni Awang at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on August 7, 2024 in Paris (Photo: Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 07: Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Team Malaysia (R) celebrates as winner ahead of Hamish Turnbull of Team Great Britain (L) during the Men's Sprint 1/16 Finals on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on August 07, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Azizulhasni Awang will now focus on the Paris Olympics keirin event this weekend after ending his sprint campaign despite a stellar start

National track cycling star Azizulhasni Awang showcased his exceptional prowess yesterday, setting a new national record during the sprint event qualifications at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Known by many as the “Pocket Rocketman”, Azizulhasni clocked an impressive 9.402 seconds, securing the 10th position overall. This achievement surpasses his previous national record of 9.523 seconds at the 2023 Asian Cycling Championships.

Read more: Paris 2024: Lee Zii Jia takes on India’s Lakshya Sen, bags bronze for Malaysia

Reflecting on his performance with Bernama in a post-race interview, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the keirin event expressed satisfaction with his campaign’s promising start, achieving his target time in the qualifiers.

According to an interview with AFP, Azizulhasni also has his sights set on completing his medal collection in Paris and remains undeterred despite undergoing heart surgery in 2022.

See also: Paris 2024: Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik secure bronze for Malaysia

However, despite his record-breaking sprint, Azizulhasni’s journey in the men’s sprint event ended in the last 16 repechage heat, finishing third behind Israel’s Mikhail Yakovlev and Poland’s Rudyk Mateusz at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome.

Azizulhasni and fellow Malaysian rider Shah Firdaus Sahrom will now shift their focus to compete in the keirin event starting Saturday, while Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri will participate in the women’s sprint event beginning Friday.

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