KUALA LUMPUR: Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, who underwent heart surgery in April, will keep pushing hard in the UCI Track Champions League (TCL) in a bid to rediscover his form.
The Pocket Rocketman competed in the opening round in Mallorca last week in what was his first world-class race since the Tokyo Olympics last year.
The 34-year-old showed glimpses of his form but was unable to make it past the first round of the keirin and individual sprint.
Azizulhasni, who will next compete in the Berlin round on Saturday, said on social media: "I had only two solid weeks of training prior to Mallorca, before that it was just about slowly building up (training load).
"I'm happy with how things are going so far. First of all there was no negative feedback (reaction) from my body both internally and externally which is a good thing.
"Additionally, I was still right up there tactically. The muscle memory and the instinct is still there, I just didn't have the legs to finish it off.
"I have lost some strength and subsequently power, and it will take time to regain it through training.
"I think if I keep pushing harder in the coming rounds, the process (of recovering top form) will be quicker and that is one of the main points we are competing here."
Aziuzulhasni is currently ninth in the overall TCL standings with nine points. Keirin and individual sprint world champion Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands leads the championships on 37 points.