Azizul won't go on as he's still dealing with heartbreak
National track cycling champion Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang is not even thinking of extending his career at the moment after his shocking disqualification in the first round heat of the keirin competition last week.
All the 36-year-old wants to do now is to go back and see his wife and four daughters.
A teary-eyed Azizul, who addressed the media upon his return on Tuesday (Aug 13) night, said he is still coming to terms with his early elimination.
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All the 36-year-old wants to do now is to go back and see his wife and four daughters.
A teary-eyed Azizul, who addressed the media upon his return on Tuesday (Aug 13) night, said he is still coming to terms with his early elimination.
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Transcript
00:00I would like to apologize on behalf of the Malaysian contingent
00:20because we have not been able to bring home the first gold medal for Malaysia.
00:27But what we see this time is that there is an improvement in our Go-to-Go athletes.
00:35And I just want to inform you of a few improvements.
00:39One is the national record.
00:44Three athletes have managed to break the national record,
00:48namely Dato' Azizul, Nurul Izzah and Anik Khazdan.
00:54YB, a question for me.
00:57At the end of the Olympics, the RTG program,
00:59there were a few athletes who showed improvement, as YB said.
01:04But some said the program was a failure.
01:06Is it fair for YB to label the fact that the athletes did not win,
01:11even though they did not get the gold,
01:12but still showed improvement?
01:14The records were set for the Olympics.
01:16As I have said,
01:18first of all, we apologize because we have not succeeded.
01:23I do not use the word failure
01:26because as it is said, the RTG program is for two Olympics,
01:29namely Paris and Los Angeles.
01:31After the establishment last year,
01:34one and a half years,
01:37we have managed to get the first gold medal in these two Olympics.
01:41So we have not succeeded in getting the first gold medal.
01:46And as I said,
01:48our Go-to-Go athletes are athletes and coaches
01:51because this is a top-up service that they asked for
01:55to increase the opportunity to get the gold medal to go home.
01:59For me personally and also on behalf of the cycling team,
02:04I humbly apologize
02:07because we were not able to deliver the expected gold medal.
02:12As YB Hanayo and Coach Jon Bisley said,
02:17we do not see this as a failure.
02:21But I believe that Shah will continue the effort that we have.
02:30And I believe in his contribution
02:33together with Izzah and also several other women.
02:38Unfortunately for me,
02:40I am not sure why the ending is like this for this time.
02:45Indeed, from the early stage,
02:48I am very happy with everything that we have
02:51because in terms of preparation,
02:55there is nothing else that we can ask for.
02:57Support from MSN, ISN, KBS through the RTG program that we have.
03:03Indeed, everything that we need has been completed.
03:10And I came with an extraordinary spirit to Paris.
03:14If someone said that I was too much pressure or too much risk,
03:19that's not true.
03:20I came with the spirit to win the gold for the country,
03:26not for bronze, not for silver.
03:28And my spirit is indeed strong to compete.
03:33But unfortunately,
03:36such a thing happened during the race.
03:38And I myself was speechless.
03:42I really don't know how to accept it.
03:46In fact, even now, I still haven't fully accepted what happened to me.
03:52It's an ending that I don't want, that I ask for.
03:56But as a Muslim, we need to pray for justice for me.
04:02And I hope that the RTG program that we have now
04:06can be continued for the next athlete.
04:08Because as far as I know,
04:11my career journey has come to an end.
04:13That's it for me.
04:14It's not about myself anymore.
04:15It's about the next generation.
04:17And the athletes, we need a great program
04:22for them to continue the next four years to Los Angeles.
04:27As Coach John said earlier,
04:29the problem we have in Malaysia is not lack of talent.
04:32We have talent, but because of the program that is always on and off, on and off.
04:36Sometimes when we change top management, ministers,
04:41so things change, actually.
04:43So in high performance athletes, we need something consistent
04:47so that it doesn't interfere, it doesn't affect our athletes' health.
04:51I am also very excited and happy to see young athletes.
04:55If you can see, most of the athletes who qualified to Paris this time
04:59are a lot younger than them.
05:02Mostly, some of them are the first choice.
05:04And I believe if they are taken care of properly,
05:09they give full attention to the training and all the aspects
05:13that they need to take care of,
05:15I believe they can realize the gold medal in Los Angeles later.
05:21As I said before,
05:23what the athletes need,
05:26not just bicycles, but what the athletes need from me,
05:30whatever knowledge that I can transfer or share,
05:33God willing, I will try my best.
05:35Because my life is for SUKAN, for Malaysia.
05:41Indeed, all of Malaysia,
05:43all parties have helped me a lot since the beginning of my career until now.
05:50And I don't know how, I want to thank everyone.
05:53But I am grateful
05:56that we can see clearly that SUKAN,
05:59the recent Olympics,
06:01has united all of Malaysia.
06:03And I am very touched by the messages that I received,
06:06the comments that I received,
06:08all of them are very inspiring and also at least
06:12reduce my feelings that I don't know how to tell right now.
06:16So at least, even though I didn't win the gold medal that I hoped for
06:20from the beginning of my career in SUKAN,
06:23but at least I know that all of Malaysia always support me and pray for me.
06:29So,
06:31I would like to say once again,
06:33thank you to everyone, and I would like to apologize to myself
06:37because the Go Azizo Go has not been achieved.
06:41But the important thing is that we hope that we can all,
06:44not only here, support our athletes,
06:46but can continue for the next four years.
06:48All of Malaysia,
06:50not only verbally support,
06:52but if possible,
06:54all of us can come down and help SUKAN our country.
06:58I believe that all of us together,
07:00giving full support,
07:02we can achieve the gold medal in the Olympics, God willing.
07:06Dato, regarding your decision to speak,
07:10we all respect that,
07:12but it's not a strange thing if it happens,
07:14because we know you are still in good condition,
07:18because I myself spoke to the president,
07:21who said that you take care of your diet and everything.
07:25So, if Azizo changes his mind during this cooling period,
07:30we all might accept it as a good news,
07:34since we can still label you as a leader for this event.
07:40So, on that, maybe there is a consideration or something like that, Azizo?
07:43As I said earlier,
07:45now I still can't fully absorb what is happening,
07:48because usually, if I compete,
07:52if I lose,
07:55when I can express my passion and energy,
08:01I can accept it, you know.
08:03But, because of...
08:06I can't do anything.
08:09I really...
08:11I don't know how to say it.
08:13If we, as elite athletes,
08:17we eat, sleep,
08:19we live for the sake of the country.
08:23Even for me,
08:27I put my family as my second priority.
08:31So, it's really hard.
08:33Even when I'm on leave, I'm still training,
08:35because I'm thinking about the Olympics, you know.
08:41I don't know in the future what to say, but...
08:47I want to answer for Azizo.
08:51I have discussed with Dato' Azizo,
08:54and I have asked him to take the time to discuss with his family first.
08:59And the responsibility of Road to Go,
09:01indeed, we will support his decision.
09:04As long as he wants to compete,
09:07and as long as his body can,
09:09we will give support.
09:11So, give him time to discuss with his family first.
09:15They know that even when I'm on leave,
09:17I will still be active with the sport.
09:19I will still ride my bike.
09:23But I think the most important thing is that they need my help.
09:27Maybe if Shah needs a sparring partner to push him,
09:31or other young riders need a sparring partner too,
09:35or anything, if the team needs me,
09:37God willing, I can consider.
09:39But for now, I think I need time.
09:43Because to prepare for this,
09:47it's very tough and challenging.
09:49Not physically.
09:53Physically, training hard is normal for me.
09:55I can accept that.
09:57But mentally, I have a young family.
09:59The kids are growing up,
10:01always keep asking me.
10:03If you remember what happened to me two years ago,
10:07when I found out about the heart attack,
10:09my family told me to stop.
10:11That's it.
10:13Nothing more to achieve.
10:15But I said,
10:17I promise, give me one more Olympics.
10:19Last Olympics.
10:21I promised to my mom,
10:23one of my kids.
10:25I just want to do it for my country.
10:27But...
10:29I'm also disappointed with what happened.
10:31But I need time now.
10:33Azizul, maybe thinking about LA 2028,
10:35a bit too far.
10:37There's the World Champs in two months.
10:39A proper goodbye for you.
10:41At least a short-term plan.
10:43Because you're still in a good condition.
10:45You still have a lot to guide the guys.
10:47You still have a lot of people to inspire.
10:49Yes, John told me
10:51if I want to consider going to the World Championships.
10:53Since the beginning,
10:55I didn't think about the World Championships.
10:57Because my whole focus and target
10:59is for the Olympics.
11:01Just for the goal.
11:05But I'm not sure.
11:09Now I just need time and space
11:11to rest my mind.
11:13And try to absorb
11:15what's happening.