PETALING JAYA: Azizulhasni Awang finished off his World Cup campaign on a wonderful note by claiming an unexpected bronze medal in the sprint event at the Speed Dome in Perth, Australia.
Azizul's bid to make the final ended after he lost in two heats to sprint world record holder Matthew Richardson of Britain.
But true to his fighting style, Azizul bounced back superbly to beat Israeli Mikhail Yakovlev in two heats to secure a first-ever World Cup bronze medal.
Having won a dramatic keirin final race on Saturday, Azizul will return home with two medals for Malaysia.
Making it to the sprint podium will bring him great satisfaction as Azizul's previous accomplishments have all come in the keirin discipline.
The 38-year-old earlier qualified fourth fastest in the 200m qualifying stage with 9.702s, which earned him a bye straight to the last 16.
Azizul then beat Lowie Nulens of Germany to enter the quarter-finals and went on to overcame reigning world junior champion Ryan Tayte of Australia to enter the last four stage.
