Azizulhasni Awang, a celebrated Malaysian cyclist known for his achievements in keirin racing, has revealed a lesser-known passion for cooking alongside his athletic pursuits. Over a career spanning two decades, Azizulhasni has secured two Olympic medals and seven World Championship medals, establishing himself as one of the top figures in competitive cycling.

Born in Terengganu, Azizulhasni’s interest in cooking developed during his time training in Melbourne in 2007. Faced with the practical need to prepare his own meals rather than relying on dining out, he began experimenting in the kitchen. He highlighted the importance of nutrition in his regimen, noting that managing his diet became increasingly critical as he matured in age and experience.

“Nutrition is very important to me, especially as I get older through the years,” Azizulhasni said. Preparing his own meals enabled him to maintain a diet tailored to his athletic requirements. Additionally, his culinary efforts extended beyond personal needs—he often cooks for family and teammates during celebrations, and shares cooking duties with his wife, Datin Athiah Ilyana Abdul Samat, particularly during weekends and the fasting month.

Currently, Azizulhasni is training at a camp in Brisbane in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled to run from September 29 to October 2. While focused on maintaining peak physical condition, he also takes time to indulge in his passion for cooking, favoring high-quality, lean beef steaks. To ensure quality, he reportedly brought several pieces of steak from Melbourne, where prices are more affordable than in Malaysia.

Reflecting on his upcoming competition, Azizulhasni, now 38, is making his fourth and final appearance at the Asian Games. He enters the event with high hopes of adding to his previous successes: gold medals in the keirin event at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and the individual sprint at the 2018 Jakarta edition. He remains confident about the challenge ahead, recognizing the competition will be intense but expressing determination to deliver top performances.

“The competition will be tough but they will have to bring out the best in them to beat me,” Azizulhasni said, underscoring his readiness to contend with the region’s elite cyclists once again.