NILAI: A tired Azizulhasni Awang defied the odds to back up his keirin gold with a bronze in the sprint event on the final day of the Track World Cup in Nilai.
The former keirin world champion delivered a consummate 2-0 victory over Nikita Kiriltsev, riding under AIN (Independent Neutral Athlete) banner, in the third place decider at the National Velodrome in Nilai on Sunday (April 26).
Azizul had earlier lost 0-2 to former sprint world record holder Nicholas Paul of Trinidad and Tobago.
Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen of Holland, the outright favourite, claimed the gold with a clinical 2-0 win over Paul in the final.
Azizul had earlier served an indication of things to come when he qualified third fastest with 9.601s in the qualification round.
Havreysen topped the qualification round with 9.414s ahead of Paul (9.464s).
Azizul, by virtue of a top four finish in the qualification, advanced straight to the second round where he beat Huang Ruiting of China.
He qualified for the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Czech Republic rider Dominik Topinka.
Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri’s bid for a place in the women’s keirin final ended after she placed sixth in her semi-finals heat. Only the top three riders advanced to the main final.
