Focus on what you can control, Beasley tells Azizulhasni ahead of Worlds

John Beasley, Malaysia's outgoing national technical director, is advising Azizulhasni Awang to concentrate on what he can control as the World Championships commence in Shanghai from October 14-18. Despite the anticipation surrounding Azizulhasni, who aims to become the first Malaysian athlete to compete at six Olympics, Beasley believes the sprinter's priority should be to approach the championships with confidence and readiness to perform.

Beasley emphasized that his role is to assist athletes in arriving at the championships confident, prepared, and focused on what they can control. Azizulhasni, a 38-year-old sprinter, made his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008 and is the only Malaysian to qualify for both the individual sprint and keirin events in Shanghai after winning both in recent UCI Track World Cup meets.

He has also consistently placed on the podium in competitions since returning to the sport last year. With a week remaining for final preparations, Beasley highlighted that the Malaysian camp has created the ideal environment for the riders to focus on their tasks after the Asian Games. The team has been enjoying their time in Shanghai, away from the distractions in Malaysia, allowing them to concentrate on training and bond with one another.

Beasley acknowledged that the championships will be the final major assignment of his long association with Malaysian track cycling, as he is set to join Japan's coaching team. He expressed gratitude for the journey shared with Azizulhasni and the team, but remains focused on the immediate goal of ensuring each athlete gives their best performance.