Rocketman refuelled: Azizul becomes oldest Asiad cycling medalist

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 2, 2026

Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang became the oldest medalist in Asian Games cycling history by winning bronze in the men’s sprint at age 38. This milestone highlights his enduring elite performance across four Asian Games and sets the stage for his final event, the keirin, where he aims to add another gold to his career tally.

Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang made history at the Asian Games by becoming the oldest medalist in cycling events with a bronze in the men’s sprint competition. At 38 years old, Azizulhasni, known as the "Pocket Rocketman," used his experience to secure a 2-0 victory over Thailand’s former keirin champion Jai Angsuthasawit in the third-place playoff held Wednesday at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka, Japan.

His achievement surpassed Hong Kong's Wong Kam Po, who was 37 when he won gold in the men’s road race at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. Azizulhasni is competing in his fourth Asian Games and this marks his fifth career medal in the event, including golds in keirin (2010 Guangzhou) and individual sprint (2018 Jakarta).

Cycling technical director John Beasley praised Azizulhasni’s persistence in the sport over two decades. “He has again found himself on the podium once more at his fourth Asian Games, what a champion,” Beasley said. He acknowledged the challenges Azizulhasni has faced throughout the year, competing in the World Cup series in Perth and Malaysia, as well as the Commonwealth Games, and noted the cyclist’s ability to remain a top contender.

Earlier in the competition, Azizulhasni was eliminated in the semi-finals, losing 0-2 to China’s Li Zhiwei, who eventually finished as runner-up. Azizulhasni had secured his spot in the final four by defeating Japan’s Konata Takahashi 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Japan’s Kaiya Ota, who posted the fastest qualifying time (9.465 seconds) and defeated Li Zhiwei 2-0 in the final rounds, retained his gold medal.

Azizulhasni is set to compete in the keirin event, his last race of the Asian Games, with eyes on clinching another gold to close out his campaign.

In the women’s individual sprint, Malaysia’s Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri and Nur Alyssa Mohd Farid advanced to the quarter-finals following wins in the second round. Nurul Izzah defeated Hong Kong’s Ching Yin Shan, while Nur Alyssa overcame Taiwan’s Liu Shang-ying. Both riders had solid qualifying performances, with Alyssa placing fourth and Nurul Izzah sixth.

Malaysia has already secured two medals in women’s track cycling at these Games: a silver in the team sprint and a bronze in the keirin, won by Nurul Izzah.

With a demanding schedule and an enduring commitment to the sport, Azizulhasni is widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s greatest cyclists, continuing to compete at the highest levels into his late 30s.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.