Namaste! Azizulhasni hanya wujud satu dalam sejuta!

SEJAK membuat liputan sukan di luar negara, pelbagai ragam atlit kebangsaan pernah disaksikan. Detik menang atau kalah beberapa acara serta kontroversi masih segar dalam minda saya.

Cuma, semalam saya dapat merakamkan satu aksi menarik yang boleh dianggap terbaik. Ia adalah sifat berani ditunjukkan Azizulhasni Awang - sesuatu yang saya jarang dapat lihat pada atlit negara lain ketika mereka dilontarkan cabaran.

Walaupun anak muda dari Terengganu itu dibatalkan kemenangannya gara-gara kesilapan teknikal menghimpit lawan, apa yang menarik tumpuan saya adalah perwatakan ikon sukan negara ini.

Pada usia 22 tahun, erti takut berdepan lawan lebih perkasa tidak timbul. Dia cuma tahu untuk berlumba dengan kayuhan terbaik dan memiliki mental untuk menang - baik di pentas Sukan Asia, kejohanan dunia atau pun Olimpik.

Dia pernah melakukan gelagat sama ketika berdepan jaguh dunia dari Scotland, Sir Chris Hoy dalam saingan suku akhir acara keirin di Sukan Olimpik Beijing, dua tahun lalu sehingga mendapat pujian.

Sebenarnya saya tidak pernah menyaksikan aksi Azizulhasni dari dekat di gelanggang pertandingan, tetapi sekurang-kurangnya pengalaman pertama ini memberi saya satu rumusan, atlit dengan ketinggian kira-kira 1.57 meter ini mungkin sukar ditemui bagi satu tempoh yang lama.

Atlit negara lain yang terlepas peluang menang pingat emas mungkin duduk menangis atau bersifat emosi, gelagat berkenaan jauh daripada wajah pelumba kecil itu yang boleh berbual mesra dengan wartawan ketika diwawancara, semalam.
Seperti kata pemenang emas acara keirin, Josiah Ng, semalam: “Azizul adalah seorang dalam sejuta di Malaysia yang dikurniakan bakat besar dan saya tidak tahu sama ada akan lahir seorang lagi sepertinya.”

Apa yang pasti, acara berbasikal trek sukar mencari watak seperti ini apabila dia bersara satu hari nanti dan sifatnya harus menjadi contoh atlit muda lain untuk tidak sama sekali takut apabila berdepan jaguh dunia.

Bagi Azizulhasni, dia adalah jaguh dunia dan elemen penting ini akan membantu dia untuk satu tempoh yang lama.

Saya akui agak sedih dia tidak menang semalam tapi sekurang-kurangnya saya melihat sifat wira seorang atlit negara dari dekat.

B.Harian

'Ini perlumbaan taktikal terbaik saya'

AZIZULHASNI bersama jurulatihnya, John Beasley (kiri) dan pengurus pasukan, Amrun Misnoh (kanan) membuat bantahan kepada juri yang membatalkan kemenangannya, semalam.

Saya tidak kisah jika terjatuh: Azizulhasni

TIDAK dinafikan Azizulhasni Awang mempamerkan perlumbaan taktikal terbaik dalam kejayaannya setakat ini tetapi keringat itu tidak memihak jaguh negara itu apabila terlepas peluang terbaik memenangi pingat emas semalam selepas menanggung perit gara-gara kemenangannya dibatalkan atas kesilapan ciptaan sendiri.

Namun, ikon sukan negara itu tampil menafikan dia menghimpit pelumba New Zealand, Simon Van Velthooven seperti yang didakwa komisar perlumbaan sejurus tamat saingan penuh dramatik itu di Kompleks Sukan Indira Gandhi.

“Saya amat sedih hari ini terlepas pingat emas. Saya yakin menang dan membuat ‘wheelie’, balut bendera negara di bahu dan mengangkat tangan tanda juara. Tapi apabila dibatalkan kemenangan, detik itu pantas bertukar sedih dan agak memalukan,” katanya yang tampak menahan kesedihan dengan menampilkan wajah tenang ketika ditemubual di velodrom.

Azizul berulang kali menyebut dia tidak menghimpit pelumba New Zealand itu kerana hanya membuat tindakan berani masuk ke dalam ruang kecil yang terdedah ketika itu pada pusingan terakhir dan berjaya memintas sebelum membuat kayuhan deras mencecah garisan penamat.

“Saya tidak memikirkan apa-apa ketika itu dan memotong masuk. Saya juga ambil risiko dan tidak kisah jika saya terjatuh kerana itulah peluang yang harus diambil dalam keirin.

“Ini adalah perlumbaan taktikal terbaik daripada saya setakat ini tapi sedih saya tidak berada bersama Josiah Ng di atas podium. Sukan Komanwel 2014 masih jauh tapi saya akan menyimpan kenangan ini untuk menebus rasa hampa empat tahun lagi,” katanya.
Azizul berkata, dia dapat kembali memberi fokus dan melupakan segera detik sedih ini menjelang perlumbaan pecut 200 meter bagi menebus gapaian pingat emas.

Keirin gold medalist Azizulhasni disqualified

New Delhi:  Malaysian rider Josiah Ng ended Australia's dominance in the Commonwealth Games velodrome on Wednesday, taking gold in the men's keirin after his compatriot Azizulhasni Awang was disqualified.

Awang powered through a tight gap to take the race in the home straight from Ng, who finished second ahead of England's David Daniell.

But officials announced after the race that Anwang was being disqualified for "dangerous sprinting", handing the gold to Ng.

Daniell was bumped up to the silver medal spot with Simon Van Velthooven of New Zealand getting bronze.

"To be honest I'd have been happy with silver because he deserved to win," Ng said in a show of solidarity with his teammate after the race.

"He didn't intrude but that's just my opinion. That's sport, I guess."

The gold medalist said Awang was "like a brother" to him, adding: "It's not my medal -- it's our medal."

Ng said he was "proud and emotional" as he had worked hard in training to confound his detractors.

"A lot of people questioned and doubted me, saying I was not worthy of being on the Malaysia team, but I just keep going because I love my country and love my sport."

Daniell, a 1000m time trial specialist who switched to the keirin to improve his chances of a place in the 2012 Olympic team, said he did not see the drama unfold until watching the screen after the race.

"I just raced my race and gave 100 percent along the way," he said.

Van Velthooven's said it felt "great" to win a medal at the end of the season.

Ross Edgar, Scotland's Olympic keirin silver medalist, crashed out earlier as he was attempting to reel in a deficit to the leaders in the second semi-final but was brought down by South Africa's Bernard Pierre Esterhuizen.

Australia's Shane Perkins was implicated in the collision and was disqualified, his place in the final going to England's Peter Mitchell, while Esterhuizen was wheeled away on a stretcher sporting a number of cuts and scratches

Nicol cruises and Azlan toils to get into the semis

WORLD No. 1 Nicol David continued with her relentless march towards a gold medal with yet another devastating display of po-wer at the Shri Fort Sports Com-plex yesterday to storm into the semi-finals.
Nicol defeated Laura Massaro 11-5, 11-3, 11-7 and will play against Australian Kassey Brown today for a place in the final.

The five-time world champion was in full control and took just 28 minutes to oust her English opponent.
Massaro threatened to make a fight of it in the third set but Nicol stepped up a gear to wrap up the match and moved closer to nailing the only top-level competition title that had eluded her.

Azizulhasni sedih terlepas raih emas

SEDIH dan kecewa.

Itulah perasaan yang dihadapi jaguh lumba basikal trek negara, Mohd. Azizulhasni Awang (gambar) selepas kemenangannya dalam acara keirin pada Sukan Komanwel 2010 semalam dibatalkan.
Pelumba kelahiran Dungun, Terengganu ini sepatutnya memenangi pingat emas dalam acara tersebut tetapi tindakan berani yang dilakukannya beberapa meter sebelum sampai ke garisan penamat telah mengundang padah.

Pada aksi di Kompleks Sukan Indira Gandhi, Azizulhasni, 22, berjaya menamatkan saingan di hadapan rakan senegaranya, Josiah Ng.

Begitupun para pegawai perlumbaan mengambil keputusan untuk membatalkan kemenangan Azizulhasni kerana mendapati dia bersalah kerana cuba menghimpit pelumba New Zealand, Simon Van Vel Thooven.

Begitupun, kem lumba basikal Malaysia negara masih boleh menghela nafas lega apabila pingat emas yang terlepas daripada genggaman Azizulhasni secara automatik diberikan kepada Josiah.
Pingat perak dalam acara itu pula dimenangi pelumba England, David Daniell dan pingat gangsa menjadi milik Van Velthooven.

"Sudah tentu saya sedih. Saya telah mengambil tindakan berani untuk mencelah di tengah-tengah pelumba England dan New Zealand untuk memenangi perlumbaan ini.
"Apa yang saya dengar, komisar (pegawai perlumbaan) mendakwa saya menghimpit Simon. Namun berdasarkan maklumat daripada para pegawai Malaysia dan rakan-rakan pelumba lain, saya tidak melakukan sebarang kesalahan.

"Malah mereka menganggap saya telah melakukan satu tindakan berani yang tidak mungkin dapat dilakukan oleh pelumba lain.

"Tetapi segala-galanya tidak berbaloi kerana kemenangan saya telah dibatalkan," katanya.
Kegagalan itu menyebabkan Azizulhasni terpaksa menunggu empat tahun lagi untuk memenangi pingat emas acara keirin pada Sukan Komanwel.

"Ini adalah lumrah perlumbaan. Ada yang menang dan ada yang kalah tetapi saya memperoleh pengajaran yang cukup berguna hari ini (semalam).
"Lain kali, saya akan lebih berhati-hati dalam membuat keputusan terutamanya pada saat-saat yang genting seperti ini," katanya

Cycling: Hasni stays cool despite setbacks

AZIZUL Hasni Awang did not look like he had just been denied a Commonwealth Games gold medal. Instead, he looked and spoke as if nothing major had happened as he gave his version of the keirin final, which he won only to be disqualified minutes later at the Indira Gandhi Velodrome yesterday. While admitting that he was "a little disappointed" to have been stripped of the gold when he -- and many others -- felt he had done nothing wrong, Azizul said he accepted the decision and would start a new life."

"The race commissaire said I had been guilty of squeezing during the final but I don't agree with that. This was a keirin race and I had to race to win," said Azizul, a two-time world championships silver medallist.

He was deemed to have squeezed past New Zealand's Simon Van Velthoover and England's Peter Mitchell en route to crossing the finishing line first.
"Victory" tasted even better when he saw that Josiah Ng had made it a one-two finish for Malaysia. Minutes later his teammate was elevated to gold and Azizul was left out in the cold.

"They said I squeezed the two riders but I didn't do that. What happened is our wheels grazed when we navigated a corner and this always happens in keirin.

"What makes it worse is that I believe that this was technically the best I have ever raced in the keirin. My tactics were perfect and when an opportunity arose for me to take the lead, I was brave enough to do it. Other riders won't.

"But I am not going to let that affect me as what is done is done and I have to move on."

Azizul's miserable day was complete when he failed to advance to the sprint quarter-final, a failure no doubt caused in part by the keirin heartbreak but Azizul took it in his stride.

"It isn't over yet for me as I still have the team sprint to win a medal in and I will give it my all."


Read more: Commonwealth Games /NST

Cycling: Azizul's lost gold goes to Josiah

Josiah Ng celebrates after the keirin final at the Indira Gandhi Velodrome yesterday. Josiah, who finished second, was handed the gold medal after Azizul Hasni Awang was disqualified for dangerous sprinting.

JOSIAH Ng found it hard to stop himself from beaming despite the pain he felt at Azizul Hasni Awang's disqualification in the keirin final at the Indira Gandhi Velodrome yesterday. Azizul's misfortune was Josiah's gain as he was elevated to first and as bad as he felt for his teammate who he described as his "kid brother", the gold medal took a huge load off Josiah's shoulder.

"I feel bad for Azizul for he deserved the gold. I would rather win the silver in this situation for Azizul didn't do anything wrong. What he did was race aggressively which is, in my opinion, not wrong," said Josiah, 30.

But as unlucky as Azizul was, victory was a redemption of sorts for Josiah, who has had to face criticism in recent times as his performance dipped.
"I have let the country down many times and this has led to criticism -- some constructive and some not -- and I am the first to admit that I desperately wanted to prove a point in New Delhi," said Josiah,

That he did, even without the "help" he eventually got from Azizul for Josiah rode a great race and did extremely well to cross the finish line in second place when he had looked at one stage to be out of the running for a medal.

He came home from the outside and was quick to congratulate Azizul as the two rode a lap-of-honour around the velodrome, only to be told minutes later that he was the gold medallist and not his teammate.

England's David Daniel was elevated to second while New Zealander Simon Van Velthooven received the bronze.

"I feel bad for Azizul but for me, the gold comes at a time when I badly needed it. There was a lot of pressure as there are a lot of people who doubted me.

"It has been a difficult couple of years as I was always in the limelight and along came Azizul. It was tough for me, especially as Azizul and Rizal (Tisin) were winning medals at the World Championships, World Cup and Asian level.

"I haven't won at the World Championships and I had to do a lot of soul searching to find the old Josiah again. This gold medal wouldn't have been possible without Azizul for he provided me with the push I needed to find myself again.

"In fact, the entire team helped me and working with (national coach) John (Beasley) has been wonderful. The gold has convinced me of what I always believed -- that I am a late bloomer -- and I am going to be around for some time yet.

Weightlifting: Hafifi's win exceeds target

WEIGHTLIFTING'S medal blitz continued at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium yesterday as Mohd Hafifi Mansor delivered the men's 69kg bronze, bringing the sport's personal haul to five medals. The bronze also meant that weightlifting have exceeded their target of four medals and Hafifi was glad to be the one who delivered the fifth.

Hafifi lifted a total 306kg -- 137kg in the snatch and 169kg in the clean and jerk -- to ensure Malaysia finished with a medal for the third day running.

It also meant he bettered the national record of 300kg held by Hidayat Hamidon but Hafifi, 20, wasn't overly satisfied with his achievement.
"I was targetting the silver but let nerves take control. This is my first major tournament and that was the reason why I felt nervous. However, I am happy to have won the bronze though I let the silver slip away," said Hafifi.

India's Ravi Kumar Katulu was a runaway winner, lifting a total 321 for the gold while Sri Lanka's Chinthana Geetal Vidanage lifted 308kg for the silver

Weightlifting: Raihan clears the path

RAIHAN YUSOFF

HAVING achieved a first by winning a Commonwealth Games medal, Raihan Yusoff is now hoping that women's weightlifting will take off in a big way in Malaysia. Raihan, 22, delivered a surprise bronze in the 53kg late on Tuesday at the JN Indoor Hall, which was not only the first for a Malaysian woman but also ensured the four-medal target was met.

"I was not expected to deliver a medal but I wanted to give it my best shot as I was determined to surprise the same way Aricco (Jumith) and Naharuddin (Mahayudin) did in the 62kg," said Raihan yesterday.

Aricco and Naharuddin took gold and silver respectively on Tuesday, adding to the men's 56kg gold Amirul Hamizan Ibrahim won on Monday.

"Amirul is another reason why I was determined to win a medal. I have been following his progress since he won three gold medals in the 2002 Manchester Games and I wanted to be a medallist in the Commonwealth Games too," said Raihan, who hails from Kota Baru.

Raihan lifted a total 175kg for the bronze. Gold was won by Marilou Prevost of Canada who lifted 182kg while Nigeria's Onyeka Azike (180kg) took the silver.

"I also hope that this will spark women's weightlifting in Malaysia. This is my biggest achievement thus far and I hope that others back home will consider the sport as a career.

"Weightlifting is slowly but surely bringing honour to Malaysia and if more women pick up the sport, I am sure that we will soon be challenging for honours on the international stage.