He put on a brave face and kept his composure during the post-race interview despite his obvious disappointment at finishing second to Britain’s Jason Kenny.
Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen settled for bronze.
There were moments during the interview that tears welled up in Azizulhasni’s eyes as he tried to come to terms with not being able to deliver the gold medal.
Then, in a private moment surrounded only by Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Norza Zakaria and National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, Azizulhasni finally broke down.
The weight of carrying the hopes of an entire nation – who were counting on him to end the country’s quest for a first-ever Olympic gold medal – finally proved too much for the man known as The Pocket Rocketman.
With tears streaming down, Azizulhasni kept on apologising for not fulfilling the hopes of all Malaysians.
“I am very, very sorry,” said the rider, who is competing in his fourth straight Olympics.
The 33-year-old Azizulhasni failed to qualify for the keirin final in Beijing, finished sixth at the 2012 London Games before winning his first Olympic medal – a bronze – at the 2016 Rio edition.
Reezal and Norza consoled him assuring he had given his best and that his silver medal was the pride of the nation.
In all honesty, Azizulhasni has no reason to apologise.
He performed admirably and can hold his head up high after giving his best against a top-class field of finalists.
In today’s race, Azizulhasni came in second just 0.763 seconds behind Kenny, who also won gold at the 2016 Rio Games.
Azizulhasni’s silver is the second medal Malaysia have won at the Tokyo Olympics after national shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bagged a bronze in men’s doubles badminton.
Asked if he will compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Azizuhasni said “that is the plan”.
However, he wishes to take a break first after going through so many ups and downs prior to the Tokyo Games.
“During centralised training, I had to leave my wife and kids behind in Melbourne … my children are growing up fast.
“When I was about to leave for Tokyo, I found out that my father had been admitted to the Kuala Terengganu Hospital for a mild stroke. But I had to fulfil my duty to the country,” he said.