Fresh from another remarkable victory at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Azizulhasni Awang was inevitably asked on his return home to Malaysia: will he continue to the next Olympic Games, in two years time?

His answer, reported in the New Straits Times and elsewhere: ‘It is not about whether I want to go to LA 2028 or not, it is about whether the national team still needs me for the competition.

‘I am waiting for a decision from the Ministry, NSC and MNCF, in terms of what their plans are. If they still need my services, then I can start to plan with the team and also my family.’

It’s hard to imagine the Malaysian authorities saying no, if their superstar feels he has another two years in him. So… is that a yes?

The most challenging conversation might be the one with his wife Athiah. She wrote in an Instagram post: ‘Three months. That’s all the time we’ve had together this year. I couldn’t wait any longer to finally have my husband by my side, for good. I hope everyone enjoyed witnessing the glory of his final race.

‘The sacrifices that come with loving someone so deeply committed to serving his country are beyond words. Every goodbye, every missed moment, every lonely day has been worth it to see him finish with pride.’

Final race? Finish? The Pocket Rocketman told the New Straits Times, he still has at least one more appearance in his plans. ‘For now my focus is on preparing for the Asian Games. I am not sure yet whether I will be competing at the World Championships in Shanghai. To be honest, if possible, I would like to hang up my bike today’ – he said, apparently ‘in jest’.

A decision would have to be made ahead of the Asian Games: they begin on September 19.