MOHD AZIZULHASNI TO SKIP ACC 2026 TO FOCUS ON TRACK WORLD CUP – MNCF

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- National track cycling star Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and teammate Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom will not compete in the 2026 Asian Track Cycling Championships (ACC 2026) in Tagaytay, the Philippines, from March 25 to 31, according to the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).

MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh said the decision was made to allow both riders to focus on the Track World Cup series at the National Velodrome Malaysia in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, from April 24 to 26.

Amarjit said MNCF believes that Mohd Azizulhasni, known as “The Pocket Rocketman”, and Shah Firdaus should concentrate on the Track World Cup series.

“We at MNCF feel it is better for Azizulhasni to focus his energy on the Track World Cup series to be held in Nilai. Moreover, it will be held on home soil for the first time in 25 years. The same applies to Shah Firdaus,” he said in a statement today.

Following the decision, MNCF will give rising young riders like Lau New Joe the opportunity to represent the country in Tagaytay.

Amarjit, who is also vice-president of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), said the championship could serve as the best platform for young riders to test their ability against challengers from across Asia.

“I also believe riders like New Joe are capable of pulling off a surprise there. MNCF needs to be bold in giving young riders the chance to compete at the highest level on the Asian track cycling stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amarjit said MNCF is excited about Mohd Azizulhasni’s significant rise in the UCI rankings following his impressive showing at the Track World Cup series in Perth last week.

The former world champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games keirin silver medallist, who won keirin gold and individual sprint bronze in Perth, jumped 39 places to 18th in the world with 2,737 points in the men’s elite sprint rankings.

New Joe also climbed 19 places to 17th in the world with 2,612 points following his impressive performance at the same meet.

Amarjit added that MNCF is targeting the participation of Mohd Azizulhasni and Shah Firdaus in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2026 Asian Games in Japan as part of preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualifying cycle.

-- BERNAMA