Malaysians have an extra reason to celebrate on their national day – with news that Azizulhasni Awang will continue to compete into the next Olympic cycle.

In an emotional video posted on Instagram, the Pocket Rocketman was fighting back the tears, as he interrupted a training session to reveal that he had just received an email from the Youth and Sports Ministry and National Sports Council, stating that his services were still required.

He gives no further details about the agreement. It isn’t clear whether they have accepted his demand around Olympic qualifying points, or whether they have agreed to provide the training support he requested.

‘The whole week before this, I couldn’t train,’ he says. ‘My mind was completely blank, nothing in my legs, nothing in my mind.

‘Alhamdulillah, today I finally received that answer.

‘No one will understand this. If you don’t go through this yourself, you won’t understand. Only a true athlete—only those who fight for the nation—will understand what this feeling is like.’

He expresses his thanks to the entire community of fans and supporters who had backed him in his plea for a concrete answer, which would allow him to continue his preparations for the Asian Games, the UCI World Championships and beyond.

In the caption, he says an official statement will follow in due course.

The news has been welcomed by Malaysia’s national cycling federation. Its president, Amarjit Singh Gill said Awang continues to prove that he is still able to compete successfully at the highest level, and his champion mentality remains a great asset to the country’s track cycling programme.