You raise me up: Cyclist Azizulhasni Awang is lifted by Japanese sprinters Yuta Wakimoto and Tomohiro Fukaya after winning the sprint final at the Asian Track Cycling Championships in Jincheon, South Korea.
PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang bowed to the ground in gratitude after dismounting from his bike.
He wobbled a bit but it’s no surprise as he had to give his all to beat Japan’s Yuta Wakimoto to claim a career defining 10th Asian Track Cycling Championships gold medal in Jincheon, South Korea.
Wakimoto beat Azizul to win the keirin final on Friday and looked on course to make it a double after winning the first heat yesterday.
However, the 31-year-old Azizul showed what a great fighter he is by beating Wakimoto, who is just one year younger, in a photo-finish second heat to force a decider.
It turned out to be a thriller as both cyclists continued their cat-and-mouse battle before Azizul pulled through at the finish line, pumping his fists in celebration.
Azizul is truly the Asian sprint king. This is his sixth individual victory in Asian Championships history.
His other individual wins in the sprint were in Nara (Japan, 2008), Tenggarong (Indonesia, 2009), Astana (Kazakhstan, 2014), New Delhi (2017) and Jakarta (Indonesia, 2019) and he also won a team sprint in Palembang (Indonesia, 2011).
Azizul’s three other golds in the Asian meet are from the keirin events in Bangkok (Thailand, 2007), Nara (Japan, 2008) and Korat (Thailand 2015).
“I didn’t want to surrender my title after missing on a good chance in the keirin,” said Azizul.
“I could have won the keirin but I crashed in the first round and had to race the repechage with bruises and a torn skinsuit. It affected my confidence and momentum a bit.
“I knew the Japanese sprinters were very fast as they showed their pace in qualifying yesterday (Sunday), so I expected it to be tough all the way.
“Wakimoto’s tactic is to race at high pace from the top section of the track as he is using far bigger gears. His sprints are faster and longer as a result.
“Thankfully, I managed to beat him with the right strategy in the decider.
“I’m all drained but it’s worth it in the end. It’s about managing my stress and emotions throughout the week, so winning this 10th Asian title means a lot to me,” said Azizul who, with Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, successfully negotiated two earlier rounds on Sunday to reach the semis.
Azizul then stormed to the final by beating another Japanese sprinter Tomohiro Fukaya in two heats in what was a repeat of their Asian Games final encounter in Jakarta last year.
Shah Firdaus, however, failed to make it when he lost both heats to Wakimoto.
He was also subsequently beaten in the bronze medal ride by Fukaya.
Fatehah Mustapa and Anis Amira Rosidi failed in their bids to reach the women’s elite keirin final.
Fatehah and Anis placed eighth and 11th respectively as reigning world champion Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong defended her Asian title.
Ahmad Safwan Ahmad Nazeri also missed out on the bronze medal in the men’s junior sprint event after he was beaten in two heats by India’s Yanglem Rojit Singh.
Ahmad earlier lost the semis fight to another Indian cyclist Ronaldo Laitonjam, who went on to take the men’s junior sprint gold.
RESULTS
Men’s elite
Sprint
Final: Azizulhasni Awang (Mas) bt Yuta Wakimoto (Jpn) 2-1.
Bronze playoff: Tomohiro Fukaya (Jpn) bt Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom (Mas) 2-0.
Men’s junior
Sprint
Final: Ronaldo Laitonjam (Ind) bt Kang Seo-jun (Kor) 2-1.
Bronze playoff: Yanglem Rojit Singh (Ind) bt Ahmad Safwan Ahmad Nazeri (Mas) 2-0.
