Azizulhasni Awang

{{Short description|Malaysian cyclist based in Australia (born 1988)}}

{{Infobox cyclist

| honorific_prefix = Yang Berbahagia Dato'

| name = Azizulhasni Awang

| fullname = Muhammad Azizulhasni bin Awang

| image = UCI Track World Championships 2020 043 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Azizulhasni in 2020

| nickname = The Pocket Rocketman

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|1|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kuala Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia[https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/aw/mohd-azizulhasni-awang-1.html Mohd Azizulhasni Awang] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002113218/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/aw/mohd-azizulhasni-awang-1.html |date= 2 October 2016 }}. sports-reference.com

| height = 1.68 m{{cite web| url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/6/230136.shtml| title=Athlete Biography – AWANG Mohd Azizulhasni | publisher=Beijing Olympics official website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080809113005/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/6/230136.shtml|archive-date=9 August 2008}}

| currentteam =

| discipline = Track

| role = Rider

| ridertype = Sprinter

| majorwins =

| amateuryears1 =

| amateurteam1 = Dungun Cycling Team

| proyears1 = 2009

| proteam1 = Bike Technologies Australia

| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{MAS}}}}

{{MedalCount|total=yes

|Olympic Games|0|1|1

|World Championships|1|2|4

|Asian Games|2|1|1

|Asian Championships|12|7|6

|SEA Games|3|2|0

|Commonwealth Games|0|0|2

}}

Dato' Muhammad Azizulhasni Awang {{post-nominals|post-noms=DPMT KMN AMN}} (born 5 January 1988) is a Malaysian professional track cyclist based in Melbourne, Australia.{{Cycling Archives|21631}} Nicknamed "The Pocket Rocketman" due to his small stature, he is the first and only Malaysian cyclist to win a medal at the Summer Olympics.{{cite news|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/08/166091/cycling-pocket-rocket-wins-malaysias-first-track-medal|title='Pocket rocket' wins Malaysia's first track medal|date=17 August 2016|work=New Straits Times|access-date=20 October 2016}} He is also the first Malaysian to have competed in the Olympics five times.{{cite news|last1=Teik Huat|first1=Lim|title=Azizulhasni's Paris Olympics spot confirmed, to be first Malaysian to compete in five games|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2024/04/15/azizulhasni039s-paris-olympics-spot-confirmed-to-be-first-malaysian-to-compete-in-five-games|access-date=28 July 2024|work=The Star|date=15 April 2024}}

Azizulhasni was Team Malaysia's national flag bearer at the 2008 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations. He won his first World Championship medal in 2009, a silver medal in the individual sprint.{{Cite web |url=http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?dt=0330&pg=su_01.htm&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&y=2009 |title=Azizulhasni menang perak Kejohanan Dunia |access-date=20 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110005356/http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?dt=0330&pg=su_01.htm&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Sukan&y=2009 |archive-date=10 November 2017 |language=ms |url-status=dead }}

His debut Olympic medal came at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he won a bronze in the individual keirin.{{cite web |title=Rio 2016 Keirin men Results |url=https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/rio-2016/results/cycling-track/keirin-men |website=Olympics |access-date=3 September 2021}}

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won a silver medal in the same category of individual keirin.{{cite web |title=Cycling Track - Men's Keirin |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/cycling-track/event-schedule-men-s-keirin.htm |website=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006094611/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/cycling-track/event-schedule-men-s-keirin.htm |url-status=dead }}

In 2017, he won his first World Championship title in the keirin,{{cite web |title=Thrilling racing on day two of UCI Track World Championships presented by Tissot |url=http://www.uci.ch/track/news/article/thrilling-racing-day-two-track-world-championships/ |website=Union Cycliste Internationale |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721052208/http://www.uci.ch/track/news/article/thrilling-racing-day-two-track-world-championships/ |archive-date=21 July 2018 |date=13 April 2017 |url-status=dead}} and became the first Malaysian to ever wear the coveted rainbow jersey.{{cite web |author1=Lim Teik Huat |title=Azizul finally wins coveted rainbow jersey after a 10-year wait |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2017/04/14/the-new-king-of-keirin-azizul-finally-wins-coveted-rainbow-jersey-after-a-10year-wait/ |website=The Star |access-date=3 September 2021 |date=14 April 2017}}

Competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Men's keirin qualifier, he was disqualified for cycling ahead of the derny motorbike used as a pacer before it left the track. National track head coach John Beasley called it a monumental mistake, and said: "The rule is clear and we were more than one length in front and it didn't give me any room to argue about it.[https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2024/08/11/beasley-says-azizul-still-in-shock-admits-mistake-and-apologises "Beasley says Azizul still in shock, admits mistake and apologises,"] The Star.

Early life and education

Azizulhasni was born in Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia to his biological parent Awang Embong and Rokiah Husin. He is the eighth of nine children in his family and was adopted by Mustafa Ngah and Selamiah Yong.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/41189391704/photos/thank-you-to-my-lovely-wife-athiah-ilyanathanks-for-taking-care-of-our-kids-when/10154514474981705/|title=Thank you to my lovely wife, Athiah Ilyana|author=|work=Azizulhasni Awang |date=14 April 2017|access-date=9 October 2021|via=Facebook}}{{cite web|url=http://pmr.inform.gov.my/index.php/sosial/3264-kejayaan-atlet-azizul-hasni-awang.html|title=Azizul Hasni Awang|work=Portal Maklumat Rakyat|publisher=Ministry of Information|date=11 July 2018|access-date=17 February 2019|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711165858/http://pmr.inform.gov.my/index.php/sosial/3264-kejayaan-atlet-azizul-hasni-awang.html|url-status=dead}} Azizul took up cycling at 10 years old, and was later discovered by his first coach Rozimi Omar who had advised him to stop skateboarding and focus on cycling.{{cite web|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2015/03/01/rough-ride-to-stardom/850075 |title=Rough ride to stardom |author=Wan Noriza Meor Idris|website=Malay Mail|date=1 March 2015 |access-date=3 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/11/national-hero-we-never-knew-tribute-rozimi-omar|title=The national hero we never knew: A tribute to Rozimi Omar |author=Arnaz M. Khairul|website=New Straits Times |date=3 November 2015|access-date=3 September 2021}}

He was thankful to his late father for giving him a bicycle as a reward after he obtained 4A 1B in his UPSR.{{cite web |author1=Fatimi Ndaiah Zainudeen |author2=Norzasrudin Mohamed Nor |title=Jaguh dari Dungun |url=http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2009&dt=0405&pub=kosmo&sec=rencana_utama&pg=ru_01.htm |website=Kosmo! |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408123938/http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2009&dt=0405&pub=kosmo&sec=rencana_utama&pg=ru_01.htm |archive-date=8 April 2009 |language=ms |url-status=dead}} Azizul received his primary education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu 48 and continued his secondary studies at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Omar in Dungun. After his PMR examination, he received three offers from MRSM, Science School and the Bukit Jalil Sports School. Ultimately chose to transfer to national sport school in Bukit Jalil as his interest in cycling and also due to his ambition to be a physician or an athlete at that time.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

Azizul moved to Australia in 2007, settling in Melbourne.{{cite web |title=Azizulhasni's bronze medal, the fruit of family sacrifice |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/08/17/azizulhasnis-bronze-medal-the-fruit-of-family-sacrifice/1185589 |website=www.malaymail.com |access-date=2 August 2024 |date=17 August 2016 |quote=...who is based in Melbourne since 2007.}} He had also majored in sports science (Bachelor of Sport Movement) at Victoria University (VU).{{cite news|title=VU scholar brings home bronze in Rio|url=https://www.vu.edu.au/news-events/news/vu-scholar-brings-home-bronze-in-rio|publisher=vu.edu.au|date=18 August 2016|access-date=20 August 2016}} In 2015, he became the first non-Australian athlete to receive a Blue Award from Victoria University.{{cite web|title=VU Sports Awards|url=https://www.vu.edu.au/campuses-services/sport-fitness/sport-awards|publisher=vu.edu.au}}

Career

Azizulhasni won the gold medal in 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships{{cite news|url=http://www.eurosport.com/cycling/awang-azizulhasni-revels-in-first-track-world-championships-gold_sto6128972/story.shtml|title=Awang Azizulhasni revels in Malaysia's first world track gold|date=13 April 2017|work=Eurosport|access-date=13 April 2017}} and silver medal in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in keirin. He won the silver medal at the 2009 World Championships in the sprint category and the silver medal at the 2010 World Championships in the keirin category. He was named Malaysian Sportsman of the Year in 2009 and 2010.[https://web.archive.org/web/20240908173423/http://results.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=awang-azizulhasni-1220460/index.html Azizulhasni Awang]. nbcolympics.com

In February 2011, Azizul was involved in a crash during the final of the keirin event in the World Cup leg in Manchester where he suffered serious injury when a 20 cm wooden splinter pierced through his leg. He was ruled out of the World Championships that year.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/feb/20/azizulhasni-awang-splinter-removed-crash|title=Azizulhasni Awang to have 20cm splinter surgically removed after crash|date=20 February 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=9 September 2020}}

At the 2017 Southeast Asian Games Azizul was the 111th gold medal winner, achieving Malaysia's gold medal goal after emerging champion in the men's sprint category at the National Velodrome in Nilai. Azizul was also the flag-bearer for Malaysia at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games alongside diver Cheong Jun Hoong and silat exponent Mohd Al-Jufferi Jamari.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2017/08/07/three-world-champs-to-be-flagbearers-at-sea-games-opening-ceremony/|title=KJ: Three world champs to be flag-bearers at SEA Games opening ceremony|author=Lim Teik Huat|date=7 August 2017|publisher=TheStarOnline|access-date=2 September 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2017/08/273898/azizulhasni-making-it-111-gold-medals-malaysia-sea-games-2017|title=Azizulhasni: Making it 111 gold medals for Malaysia at the Sea Games 2017|last=Azharie|first=Farah|date=29 August 2017|publisher=NSTOnline|access-date=2 September 2017}}

Personal life

Dato' Azizul married To' Puan Athiah Ilyana Abd Samat on 30 January 2010. The couple are Australian permanent residents and live in Melbourne with their four daughters.{{cite news|url= https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2024/08/12/beasley-believes-azizul-will-shine-in-next-phase-of-life |title= Beasley believes Azizul will shine in next phase of life |date=12 August 2024|work=The Star|access-date=12 August 2024}}

Achievements

; Track Cycling World Ranking

2008/09 – 1st Keirin
2010/11 – 1st Keirin

;World Championships

2009 – 15px Sprint
2010 – 15px Keirin
2015 – 15px Keirin
2016 – 15px Keirin
2017 – 15px File:Jersey rainbow.svg Keirin
2020 – 15px Keirin
2020 – 15px Sprint

;Asian Games

2010 – 15px Keirin
2018 – 15px Sprint
2018 – 15px Team sprint
2018 – 15px Keirin

;Commonwealth Games

2010 – 15px Team sprint (with Josiah Ng and Mohd Rizal Tisin)
2014 – 15px Keirin

;Olympic Games

2016 – 15px Keirin
2020 – 15px Keirin

Awards and achievements

Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100Plus Best Athlete Award: 2009, 2017{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2018/03/02/a-boost-for-apeldoorn-azizulhasni-bags-his-second-sam100plus-award-on-the-trot/|title=Azizulhasni bags his last SAM-100Plus award on the trot|last=Lim|first=Teik Huat|date=2 March 2018|work=The Star|access-date=2 March 2018}}

Honours

=Honours of Malaysia=

{{Flag|Malaysia}} :
50px Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (2016)
50px Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) (2017){{cite news|title=Chong Wei all fired up|date=10 September 2017|author=Rajes Paul|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/badminton/2017/09/10/chong-wei-all-fired-up-good-things-whet-world-no-7s-appetite-for-glory/|work=The Star|access-date=28 July 2018}}{{cite web

|url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp/|title=Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat}}

{{Flag|Terengganu}} :
50px Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Terengganu (DPMT) – Dato' (2021){{cite news|url=https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/07/732034/azizulhasni-lima-doktor-dikurnia-gelaran-datuk|title=Azizulhasni, lima doktor dikurnia gelaran Datuk|access-date=18 July 2021|publisher=Harian Metro|date=18 July 2021|language=Ms}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/cycling/2021/07/19/right-mojo-for-jojo |title=Right mojo for Jojo|website=The Star|author=Lim Teik Huat |date=19 July 2021|access-date=19 July 2021}}