# Awang apologises to all Malaysians after shock Paris exit

*By Simon | August 14, 2024*

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![mypair](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/mypair.jpg)

## 󠀁[Awang apologises to all Malaysians after shock Paris exit](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/08/awang-apologises-to-all-malaysians-after-shock-paris-exit/)󠁿

14 August 2024

Malaysian superstar Azizulhasni Awang has posted a lengthy apology for
Saturday’s disqualification from the men’s keirin competition at the Paris
Olympics.

The country’s hopes of winning its first gold medal in Olympic history rested
largely on the Pocket Rocketman; but he was
[excluded](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/08/shock-dq-for-malaysian-star-awang-in-keirin-first-round/)
for riding in front of the pacer during his first round heat.

‘When I saw my name marked with ‘disqualification,’ the world seemed to stop,’
Azizul wrote (in Malay)
[on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/C-phI91yeg4/?hl=en&img_index=1). ‘My
body, which was ready to perform, suddenly turned cold and stiff. The entire
velodrome fell silent, even though it was actually filled with cheers from the
spectators present.

‘I still did not want to give up and waited for a miracle to happen. I waited
with high hopes for the final ‘repecharge’ list to be released to ensure my name
was on it. But in the end, I remained disappointed. I immediately packed my bags
and chose to leave the area because I could not accept the reality that the race
would go on without me participating.

### ‘Asked me to retire’

‘I came to Paris full of hope, carrying the important mission of our beloved
country. Perhaps some might say that setting such high expectations caused me to
lose control. Not at all, everything was in its proper place.’

Azizul again confirmed that Paris would be his final Olympics.

‘I remembered the promises I made to my mother, wife, and children that this
would be my last Olympic appearance when they all asked me to retire after
recovering from heart surgery (in April 2022). I wondered if all of this
happened because I went against their previous requests.’

But there are suggestions that he has not yet ridden his last race. Articles
mention a possibility of him racing keirin in Japan; and we know he was at the
DerbyWheel induction held in Melbourne in December 2023.

### ‘Guarantee’

Azizul reflected on his guilt at shattering the high hopes of the entire team.
‘The saddest moment was remembering the reaction from coach John Beasley, who
was so heartbroken and couldn’t hold back his emotions.’

Beasley, returning from Paris, called for patience. ‘Give Malaysia that
privilege to look after their best of the best,’ he said, ‘and I’ll guarantee it
will reward you tenfold. But if you stop it, we start at the beginning all over
again.’

Malaysia launched a Road To Gold programme last year: but although Paris did not
produce the country’s first ever gold medal, Beasley said he sees positive
indicators already. ‘There were some really good performances,’ he said, quoted
[in Malaysia’s The Sun](https://thesun.my/sport/give-rtg-time-to-run-its-course-beasley-GO12858583)
, ‘so please don’t take that away from the athletes and the RTG programme.’

### ‘Shown you 99%’

The country’s hopes now pass to Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, who made his way
to the Olympic keirin final, only to be disqualified for causing the
final-corner crash which took Matthew Glaetzer from last place on the track, to
the third step of the podium.

Awang backed his countryman to succeed in the next Olympic cycle. Commenting on
Shah Firdaus’s latest Instagram post, he said: ‘I’m glad that I’ve shown you 99%
of how to be world class athlete before I retired. Why do I reserved that 1%?
Just in case bro… just in case… 😉’

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** paris2024