A real warrior: Azizulhasni Awang speaking with coach John Beasley as he arrives to lend his support to Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom in the keirin final yesterday. — Bernama
HE had so wanted to win the gold medal for Malaysia. Two years of recovery, first from a heart surgery, then his best fitness and finally, finding his form.
And just when Azizulhasni Awang set out to secure that medal, it was all over before it even started.
Given a bad draw – he was in sixth place – he had moved early to get into a position to charge for gold, but he misjudged the speed of the pacer of the derny. And try as he did, he could not pull up his bicycle which shot ahead of the derny.
Azizul was disqualified and left his fifth Olympics keirin race without even being able to race. It also marks the end of his chequered career during which he has won two Olympics medals – a silver and a bronze. The gold was not to be.
For Malaysia, it marks an end of an unforgettable era.
“Seventeen years, I think it’s a long time I’ve been representing the country. I may want to race in the keirin series in Japan as they invited me a few times in the past but give me time to decide my next steps,” said the dejected 36-year-old, who added he believed he had tried his best in the Paris campaign.
He said he knew he had the form to carry him all the way to the men’s keirin final and secure the country’s first Olympic Games gold medal. But it was instead a painful end to his last Olympics when he was disqualified for overtaking the derny before it left the track during his first round heat at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome.
His disqualification meant he was not even allowed to compete in the repechage held later.
Azizul said he had tried to get to the front because of the tough draw.
“When the draw was made, I got the last position, which was sixth. But we had a plan for racing from that position. After discussing with coach John Beasley, we decided the best plan was to go forward and try to get to the front as early as possible.
“This is because there were a few front runners capable of sprinting ahead. If the riders in front had accelerated early, it would have put me in a difficult situation.
“There was a possibility of being blocked by some of the riders if I waited.
“I had to choose the best tactic and moving early is something I have done before, even during the early rounds at the Tokyo Olympics.
“With one lap left before the pacer exited, I had already started moving forward slowly from the back.
“This was similar to what I did during the Asian Championships race in Kuala Lumpur last year. The plan was to move forward and be on the outside of the first or second rider, and once the pacer exited, I would immediately sprint to secure the front position (first).
“However, when I passed the third corner and before entering the fourth corner, I was blocked by a rider from France. The block was too aggressive, and in my opinion, it was intentionally aggressive as he hit me and I nearly fell. I avoided the fall thanks to my quick reaction and handling skills.
“Not only that but he was still closely following beside me and continued to try to block me a second time, and my reaction was to move forward to avoid him.
“As an elite keirin rider, we know the speed of the pacer before exiting. Usually, on the last lap, the pacer will accelerate out after passing the fourth corner at a speed of 50-55kph.
“However, in my race, the pacer moved slower than the usual and did not accelerate out after the fourth corner.
“I was struggling with the French rider when I noticed that the pacer had not accelerated out.
“I was shocked and tried to backpedal as a way to brake, but unfortunately, I couldn’t slow down as much as I needed.
“According to race rules, a rider’s rear tyre cannot pass the pacer before it exits at the pursuit line, which is the thin line in the middle of the front stretch (not the starting line).
“Did my rear tyre pass the pacer before it exited? My answer is yes, but it was unintentional and due to two situations: first, the continuous blocking and pressure from the French rider, and second, because the pacer was moving at only 40-45kph and not at the expected speed, and did not accelerate out as usual,” he explained.
The Malaysians appealed against the decision, hoping Azizul could at least get into a repechage. But the appeal was turned down.
And the country has to say thank you and goodbye to the Azizul era. What a ride it was.
