RTG keeps door open for Azizulhasni
KUALA LUMPUR: The Road To Gold (RTG) programme remains open to welcoming Azizulhasni Awang back into its fold, but the national track cycling star will first have to meet the programme's established criteria and requirements.
The Road To Gold (RTG) programme is open to reaccepting Azizulhasni Awang, the national track cycling star, according to RTG coordinator Datuk Stuart Ramalingam. Before any decision is made, the athlete's status will be reviewed following the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, scheduled to conclude in early October. Ramalingam stated that the process of admitting or dismissing athletes from the programme follows specific phases, structures, and criteria.
Azizulhasni, a 38-year-old silver medallist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, recently won gold in the keirin event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026. He previously participated in the RTG programme for the Paris 2024 Olympics but opted to become a professional rider last year. The qualification points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are offered at the World Championships in Shanghai, China, from October 14-18.
Ramalingam clarified that waiting until after the Asian Games is not an excessive amount of time for Azizulhasni to rejoin the programme. He emphasized that the waiting period is only a few months away, and the process of accepting or dismissing athletes is a collective effort involving paperwork and a structured approach. Ramalingam assured that Azizulhasni will receive assistance from the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), ensuring that he is not left behind without support.
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