When talking about how we are going to compete against the world best in sports, the aspect of physicality will be one of the things that top our minds. It has been one of our biggest excuse that our small physics will not allow us to be competitive enough to tackle the world’s best. Well this might be true in some sport such as basketball and rugby, nevertheless, there are plenty of other sports that does not require us to be as pyscially huge as the Western or African athletes, yet  still be competitive enough. In fact our best sport performers in the last 3 years or so comes in the shape of pocket size World No. 1 women squash player, Nicol Ann David. The Penangite, Nicol recently was crowned as the Sportswomen of the Year along with another small size, World No. 1 Badminton player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei who won the male category.

Recently another small size athlete made Malaysia proud by becoming the first Malaysia to win a silver medal in World Cycling Championship. Azizul Hasni Awang (nicknamed ‘Pocket Rocket’) is only as little as 170cm (5’ 7’) height and he almost made history to become the first Asian gold medallist, before being outpaced by super fast French cyclist, Gregory Bauge in the sprint event final, traditionally dominated by the European cyclist. The proud achievement was greeted with less response back home where politicians are bracing for another historical chapter in Malaysian history as Dato’ Seri Najib was set to become the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Although triple Olympic Champion, Sir Chris Hoy was missing from the competition due to injury, still the silver medal is an amazing achievement in a sport where funding and support from government are lacking due to its lack of popularity among Malaysians.  Don’t forget that Azizul is still only 21 and have plenty of time to improve. He could have delivered a historic Olmpic medal in cycling in the last Olympic had he not been drawn in the quater-final of the sprint event againts the legendary Hoy. But, he still might get that medal in 4 years time in London if careful planning and full support from government are given to this young man. Congratulations to Azizul and Rizal Tsin, too, for delivering that surprise bronze in the individual time trial.  Any more excuses guys?

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