PETALING JAYA: Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom is the last man standing for Malaysia in the Paris Olympics.
The Johor-born cyclist kept alive Malaysia cycling team's hopes to contribute a medal when he charged into the men's keirin quarter-finals stage at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on Saturday.
Shah Firdaus came out at the right time to storm to the finish line and win his repechage heat involving five other riders.
Frenchman Rayan Helal came in second but was later relegated for sprinting on the blue line.
Nick Wammes of Canada joined the Malaysian as the top two finishers to qualify for the quarter-finals to take place on Sunday.
It was a gutsy comeback from Shah Firdaus as he had earlier been given a warning for blocking another competitor in his first round heat. He was relegated and had to compete in the repechage.
Shah Firdaus is determined to go all out to lift the gloom for Malaysian contingent following the shock disqualification of Olympic silver medallist Azizulhasni Awang earlier.
Azizul, competing in his fifth Olympics, got himself kicked out of the keirin competition for overtaking the derny before it pulled off the track in his first round heat.
The Malaysian team submitted an official appeal for Azizul to allow him to race in the repechage but it was rejected by the cycling commissaire.
Malaysia were banking on Azizul to deliver its first Olympic gold in his last and fifth attempt.
Azizul was the silver medallist in Tokyo three years ago and bronze in his pet event in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be held from 5.30pm Malaysian time onwards.
