Sad day: Azizulhasni Awang is heartbroken after he was disqualified while Shah Firdaus Sahrom looks on. - OCM
PETALING JAYA: Misfortune struck Azizulhasni Awang in his fifth Olympic Games outing as he was disqualified from the keirin competition in Paris.
The 36-year-old Azizul and Frenchman Rayan Helal were deemed to have moved too quickly before the derny left the track and the jury decided to disqualify the Malaysian in the first round heat on Saturday.
It is a huge disappointment as Malaysians were hoping for Azizul to end the Paris Olympics on a high note by making the podium for the third time in a row. Azizul was the silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago and bronze medal winner in his pet event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
National head coach John Beasley could not hide his disappointment.
"It is what it is," said a dejected Beasley.
"It has not sunk in yet for Azizul, he's in a shock.
"I would have expected the derny to go faster but it does not matter, the rules state that one should not go ahead of the derny. It is what it is."
(More to follow)
