KUALA LUMPUR: National track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri does not rule out the possibility of Azizulhasni Awang competing at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Azizulhasni, 36, indicated he had retired from the national team after an unsuccessful outing at the Paris Olympics in August.
Malaysia National Track Cycling (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill, however, late last month hinted that Azizulhasni could once again don national colours.
Harnizam said Azizulhasni has not made his long term plans clear though is confident he can make a successful return to the sport if he decides to.
"As of now, he has yet to make a concrete decision. What I have been told is that he wants to focus on completing his studies (at Victoria University)," said Harnizam yesterday.
"There is a possibility he could race at the Asian Games but I think he only wants to set his goals a year ahead each time. I don't think he wants to set the Asian Games as a priority (for now).
"Azizulhasni is a high performance athlete who has been training and racing for many years. It would not be an issue for him to come back, even if he decides to spend a year away from the sport."
Earlier this week, Azizulhasni posted a video of himself riding a bike - albeit on the road instead of the track - for the first time since the Paris Olympics.
He was riding together with national track endurance and road riders. It was the first time he had "touched a bike" in three months, said Azizulhasni.
The national track cycling squad's next major assignment will be the Asian Championships which will be held in February at the National Velodrome in Nilai.