NSC puts Azizulhasni, 38, on LA28 Olympic Pathway after Asian Games keirin gold
The National Sports Council has named Azizulhasni Awang for its LA28 Olympic Pathway, calling Malaysia's nine Aichi-Nagoya golds a start rather than an end.
Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang's Olympic career is not over yet. The National Sports Council (NSC) has confirmed that the 38-year-old track cyclist has been placed on its Olympic Pathway programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, days after he won the men's keirin at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin announced the decision in Nagoya on 5 October, as Malaysia's officials took stock of a campaign that brought nine gold medals.
The keirin gold that kept the dream alive
Azizulhasni won the keirin on 2 October at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka, beating a field of much younger riders including China's 22-year-old Li Zhiwei. He held back early and attacked late, coming through strongly on the final lap. He had joined the national team's training camp only about three weeks before the Games.
The win came 16 years after his first Asian Games keirin title in Guangzhou in 2010. He also took a bronze in the sprint in Japan. At Olympic level he won keirin bronze at Rio 2016 and silver at Tokyo 2020. Malaysia has still never won an Olympic gold medal.
What the Olympic Pathway means
According to Jefri, Azizulhasni is one of the athletes already identified and marked for the pathway. The NSC is now working with the sports associations involved to draw up individual training and competition plans for each LA28 prospect.
Squash is the other headline sport. Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari both defended their Asian Games singles titles and, in doing so, secured places at LA28, where squash makes its Olympic debut.
Nine golds, but not the finish line
Malaysia ended the Games with nine gold, seven silver and 16 bronze. That beat the pre-Games target of six golds and equalled the country's best Asian Games gold tally, from Guangzhou 2010. The golds came from squash (four), karate (two), sepak takraw (one), track cycling (one) and esports (one).
Jefri called the result a sign that the high-performance programme is going the right way, but said it is not the final destination. Some sports fell short. The Speedy Tigers lost the men's hockey final 5-1 to India on 3 October, which cost Malaysia a tenth gold and an early LA28 qualification spot.
The next big test is at home. Malaysia hosts the SEA Games from 18 to 29 September 2027, with LA28 the main long-term target.
Key takeaways
- Azizulhasni Awang, 38, has been named in the NSC's Olympic Pathway programme for LA28.
- He won Asian Games keirin gold on 2 October, 16 years after his first in 2010.
- Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari secured LA28 places by retaining their Asian Games squash titles.
- Malaysia finished Aichi-Nagoya with nine golds, above the target of six.
- The NSC sees the result as a starting point ahead of the 2027 SEA Games and LA28.
FAQ
Is Azizulhasni Awang going to the 2028 Olympics? He has not qualified yet, but the NSC has placed him on its Olympic Pathway programme, with a specific training and competition plan being drawn up.
How many gold medals did Malaysia win at the 2026 Asian Games? Nine golds, seven silvers and 16 bronzes, equalling Malaysia's best gold tally from 2010.
Which Malaysians have already qualified for LA28? Squash players Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari, after winning their Asian Games singles titles.
Sources: Bernama, Malay Mail, New Straits Times, The Star