The 2024 National Track Cycling Championships is set to begin tomorrow (May 21) at the Johor Velodrome in Iskandar Puteri, but fans will have to do without the participation of Malaysia’s top stars Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Datuk Azizulhasni Awang.
National track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri confirmed today that both riders will not be competing in this year’s event. Shah is still recovering from knee tendonitis, a condition that has sidelined him since February, although he has recently resumed light riding.
“Shah is still undergoing rehabilitation for his knee but has started riding again – though not at full pace – for the past two weeks,” said Harnizam during a phone interview from Johor.
“Initially, he intended to compete in the keirin event, but there’s a regulation that limits each state to two representatives per elite event. Johor has already selected Shah’s younger brother Ridwan and Akmal Nazimi Jusena to race in the keirin. However, Shah will still attend the championships to support his fellow riders.”
As for Azizulhasni, the Olympic silver medallist continues his recovery journey. He has not returned to competition since his last appearance at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“Datuk Azizulhasni will also not be racing here,” Harnizam confirmed.
Harnizam added that fans shouldn’t expect peak performances from the national elite squad during the championship, as they are currently in the midst of a heavy strength training block and haven’t tapered specifically for this event. Despite the absence of the big names, he expressed excitement about the potential talents from state-level competitors.
“Riders from the state teams always bring their best to the national championships, and it will be no different this year,” he noted. “We, as coaches, are constantly scouting for new talent during events like this, and I’m optimistic that some young riders will rise to the occasion.”
The championship is expected to be a battleground between traditional rivals Johor and Terengganu. Johor, known for its strong sprinters, and Terengganu, recognized for its endurance cyclists, are anticipated to be evenly matched in the fight for the overall title.
“I believe it will be 50-50 between Johor and Terengganu,” said Harnizam. “Johor has strong sprinters while Terengganu has strong endurance riders.”
Kedah is also predicted to make waves, particularly in the women’s categories. All three states boast impressive track cycling development programs, with both Johor and Terengganu having their own velodromes, contributing to their dominance in national-level events.
Although the absence of Shah and Azizulhasni may be disappointing for some, the upcoming races promise to deliver competitive action and could showcase the next generation of Malaysian cycling stars.
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