Kuala lumpur: National track cycling ace Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, who was conferred the Darjah Bakti by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today, described the award as a timely boost ahead of his final appearances at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 38-year-old, nicknamed the Pocket Rocketman, was the sole recipient of the Darjah Bakti award, which was presented to him by the King during the 2026 Investiture Ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty's official birthday celebration at Istana Negara.
Azizulhasni shared his thoughts after the ceremony, saying, "Soon, there will be the Commonwealth Games (in July), followed by the Asian Games at the end of September. This (the conferment of the Darjah Bakti award) will serve as a source of motivation for me as I make my final appearances in both these Games."
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist expressed that receiving the Darjah Bakti award was one of the most meaningful moments of his career as a national athlete. He mentioned that the recognition is a great honour, as the Darjah Bakti is among the nation's highest awards and is limited to only 10 living recipients at any one time.
Azizulhasni expressed his deepest gratitude to His Majesty for graciously conferring the award upon him and hoped that this recognition would inspire national athletes to continue working hard and bringing glory to Malaysia on the international stage.
He emphasized the importance of striving sincerely for the country and consistently bringing honour to the nation. He believes that if athletes uphold the country's good name and pursue success diligently, their efforts will be appreciated.
With this conferment, Azizulhasni becomes only the third Malaysian athlete to receive the award, joining badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei and squash great Datuk Nicol Ann David, who were honoured in 2021 and 2024, respectively. The award recognizes Azizulhasni's outstanding dedication, achievements, and enduring contribution to Malaysian sport, particularly in elevating the profile of track cycling and enhancing the nation's reputation internationally.