Tough luck: Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom ahead of the keirin final. — Bernama
CYCLIST Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom did not win a medal in the end but he won the hearts of Malaysians with a heroic performance in Paris yesterday.
Shah Firdaus punched above his weight by fighting his way into the men’s keirin final at the Saint-Quentinen-Yvelines Velodrome, raising the hopes of Malaysians of seeing another athlete adding to the two bronze medals won on the badminton court last week.
In what was his first appearance in a major Games final – the Johor-born rider was in sight of a podium coming out of the last bend at the third spot but then, misfortune struck as he appeared to have been pushed off the track by Shinji Nakano of Japan.
And he crashed, so was Malaysia’s hope of ending the final day of the Olympic Games with a medal.
Harrie Lavreysen of Holland achieved his dream to become a triple Olympic winner in Paris by romping to gold ahead of Australian duo Matthew Richardson and Matthew Glaetzer.
Lavreysen had defeated Richardson in the men’s sprint event earlier this week.
Adding to the Malaysian’s misery, the cycling commissaires later decided to relegate the 28-year-old Shah Firdaus to last place for causing the accident also involving Britain’s Jack Carlin.
A limping Shah Firdaus had to be carried into the treatment area for medical assistance for his bruises and torn skin but managed to post on his Instagram account: “I’m sorry, Malaysia.”
Shah Firdaus did not have to apologise as he was least expected to shoulder the medal hope with all eyes on two-time Olympic medallist Azizulhasni Awang.
However, the pressure suddenly shifted to Shah Firdaus after the illustrious Azizul was disqualified for overtaking the derny before it pulled out of the track in the first round heat of the men’s keirin on Saturday.
Shah Firdaus, however, responded superbly to the challenge to bring renewed hope to Malaysia on the final day of the Games by clearing his quarter-finals and semi-final hurdles.
He was placed third in his quarter-final heat and thanks to Asian Games double champion Ota Kaiya of Japan’s relegation in the semi-final heat, the Malaysian made it to the final.
Shah Firdaus is only the third Malaysian to ride in the Olympics final.
Josiah Ng was the first to achieve the feat in Athens in 2004 and it was Azizul who then took over from London 2012 to Tokyo 2020.
