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Thursday May 14, 2009

Azizul returns to Melbourne for training and gets into university too

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizul Hasni Awang will begin the paper chase next month but he does not intend to relinquish his current status as the world No. 1 ranked keirin rider.

Azizul held on to the top spot in the discipline as the 2008-2009 season ranking races concluded even though he did not make it to the top six final in the World Championships in Poland in March.

The world championships silver medallist in the sprint returned to his training base in Melbourne yesterday together with Australian coach John Beasley after a five-week break.

The 21-year-old will start attending classes at the Deakin University in Melbourne next month to pursue in degree in Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in sports management.

Azizul, who also vaulted to seventh spot in the sprint rankings after his exploits in the world championships, is optimistic he can strike a balance between studies and training.

“Although it is the off-season for track cycling, I have to go back because of the start of the first semester. I also need to process the student visa and other things,” he said.

“But I will continue to train as usual. I will sort it out with Beasley but there should be no big changes.

I intend to commit to the World Cup season starting in October even if I may have to skip classes.

“The World Cup legs are where most of the ranking points are fought for and I hope to do well as I want to keep my ranking at the top as long as possible.”

Azizul will go down in history books as the only rider to win twice on the World Cup circuit last season. Malaysian elite cyclists participated in only two legs and Azizul was the winner in Melbourne and Beijing.

With only secondary school education to his resume, Azizul felt the need to get himself equipped with a degree in four years’ time to put him in good stead after he quits cycling.

“I am looking forward to becoming a student again. But at the same time, I have not lost focus of my goal to excel in the Olympics in London in three years’ time,” he said.

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