Azizul and something we've never tasted

Just got off the phone with Azizulhasni Awang in Melbourne tonight.

I missed the 20-year old's keirin gold medal in the UCI World Cup in Melbourne a night earlier. It wasn't just the country's first World Cup gold medal ever, the kid from Dungun might even be the smallest gold medallist in the history of the World Cup.

I only got the message while seated at 1am in NPC, just as the notorious Laych said her goodbyes for the night.

Nobody did understand my joy as I read the sms that told me Azizul had won a gold medal. Guess nobody cares too much for a gold medal in cycling at the world stage. He's no Nicol David.

"Slow, slow la bang," Azizul exclaimed as I suggested it could be time for him to think about becoming world champion. To do that, he'd have to bring up his form up and stay out of trouble all the way to the World Championships in Pruskow, Poland at the end of March next year. There he'd have to beat Chris Hoy, the tank of a Brit who was just too powerful for the pint-sized Azizul when they faced off in the 200m sprint quarterfinals at the Olympics.

This pic above coloured most dailies around the country during the Olympics. Hoy clenched his fists in celebration after ousting the surprise package of the Games, Azizul.

Hoy was just about the only real big name not present at the Melbourne World Cup. He's busy preparing to race against a car. He's obviously faster than any tank around.

But Hoy's 30 already. His time at the top is trickling away. That Malaysian behind him in the picture, you must note, has added accolade upon accolade to his profile, the World Cup gold being the latest.

Imagine, just two years ago, he'd won the sprint treble of keirin, 200m sprint and 1km time trial at the Asian Junior Championships. In 2007, he moved up to senior ranks and won the Asian Championships keirin gold medal. This year, he became 200m sprint and keirin Asian champion, while qualifying for his first Olympics and now has gone a step further and won a gold at the World Cup. He just can't stop. That excites me.

By now, if you still don't know who Hoy's replacement as prince of the velodrome is gonna be, ask Azizul.