PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang, after getting his campaign cut short in the individual sprint, is all fired up to cement his legacy as Asia’s flagbearer when the keirin event starts today at the World Championship in Glasgow.
The Pocket Rocketman is well rested for the two-day keirin event after the unfortunate incident when he was relegated in the second round race of the sprint event against Australian Thomas Cornish on Saturday.
The Dungun-born rider had deviated into Cornish’s sprint lane in the final straight but stressed that it was unintentional and feels hard done by the commissaires’ decision to relegate him despite crossing the line first.
Both Azizulhasni and national head coach John Beasley believed he should have been given a warning instead.
With the setback as motivation, expect the 35-year-old reigning Asian champion to put everything on the line in his bid to win a career eighth world championship medal as he is clearly in good form after clocking a solid 9.584s to place fourth in the sprint qualifiers.
Beasley is expecting strong performances from Azizul and teammate Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom in their keirin campaign at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
“His (Azizul) performance in the sprint (qualifying) was special, he has never qualified fourth (at world championships) before,” said Beasley.
“Unfortunately, I’m not the one who makes the decisions but the commissaires do.
“But on the positive side, he is in great shape with really good form.
“He placed ninth in the sprint event, which still gives us great (qualifying points) for the Paris Olympics.
“With the form he is in, Azizul will be a real contender.
“The track is running slow in Glasgow, so all in all, both men are in good shape heading into their best event (keirin),” added Beasley.
The flying Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen, who clocked a blistering 9.374s to top the sprint qualifiers and is on course to defend his sprint title after reaching the semi-finals on Sunday, will once again be the man to beat in the keirin.
Australia’s Matthew Richardson, who has been the only rider able to challenge Lavreysen last season, will also be tough to beat.
Others with the potential to dash Azizul’s hopes of glory in the keirin are Trinidad and Tobago’s Paul Nicholas and Britain’s Jack Carlin, who have also reached the last four of the individual sprint on Sunday.
Shah Firdaus, who claimed the keirin bronze at the Asian championships in June, could also be a medal contender if he can make the final for the first time.
Azizul is the only Malaysian to feature in the keirin final at the world championship and made the podium in his pet event for five times, including pulling off a historic win in Hong Kong in 2017.
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