PETALING JAYA: Malaysian cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Josiah Ng showed they are on the right track for a good showing at next month’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games with podium finishes in back-to-back competitions in Adelaide.
At the Australian Grand Prix on Thursday, Azizulhasni finished second behind Australian Matthew Glaetzer in the keirin. Josiah was placed third.
In the sprint event, Josiah was placed 13th while Mohd Edrus Yunos finished 17th.
Azizul, who reached the keirin final at the 2012 London Olympics, came close to nicking a second medal in the sprint event at the Super Drome Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 26-year-old was fourth fastest in qualifying and went all the way to the semi-finals before losing to Glaetzer. Azizul’s charge for a medal ended when he lost to China’s Xu Chao in the bronze playoff.
It was reigning Commonwealth Games champion Josiah’s turn to shine for Malaysia with a bronze in the keirin at the South Australian Grand Prix on Monday. Azizul and Edrus were placed 11th and 14th respectively in the sprint.
Top Malaysian woman cyclist Fatehah Mustapa bounced back from uninspiring performances in the two earlier meets to finish a creditable fourth in the keirin.
China’s Zhong Tianshi, the sprint silver medallist at this year’s World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia, won the race ahead of former world champion Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong and Australian ace Anna Meares.
Fatehah was placed 14th in the sprint, which was won by Wai Sze.
Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad said it was a good tune-up for Azizul, Josiah and Fatehah ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
“It was good to see our main hopes for the Commonwealth Games fighting it out with top riders from Japan, China, New Zealand and Hong Kong,” he added.
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