Malaysian keirin superstar Azizulhasni Awang has announced that he will continue his career as a professional rider – but no longer with the country’s national squad.

‘I decided to return to being active in the cycling arena competitively, but the journey is a little different and I will not be with the national team,’ he told a press conference at the National Sports Council in Kuala Lumpur (translated by Bernama).

‘When I sat down with the NSC and the National Sports Institute, I asked them to fully focus on other riders for the sustainability of our sport.

‘I want to continue for the next two years, because the end result in Paris was not sweet for me. Hopefully there is sweetness and we can say goodbye in a good way.’

The Pocket Rocketman said his target for this year would be the Track World Championships in Santiago, Chile in October; and that he was ready to ride with the national squad if his services were still needed, especially for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2026.

He will receive independent funding of US$ 45,000 (RM200,000), with an objective to qualify for next year’s Asian Games.

‘I feel it is something Malaysia can afford,’ said sports minister Hannah Yeoh. ‘For some other athletes, I may be worried to give them so much freedom to decide on their own training, but this man doesn’t have a problem of discipline or lack of motivation.’

Awang attended DerbyWheel’s induction in Melbourne in December 2023.