Final spin for Azizul as he targets one more Games medal

PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang will leave nothing in the tank when he lines up for his final Commonwealth Games event in the men’s 1km time trial today.

The newly crowned keirin champion saw his individual sprint campaign end in the quarter-finals after losing to Australia’s Leigh Hoffman at the Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.

The draw did Azizul no favours as he had to return to the track almost immediately after beating England’s Joseph Truman in the last 16 to face a well-rested Hoffman.

Hoffman, whose last-16 race was the earliest on the schedule, made full use of the extra recovery time to defeat Azizul, who admitted he did not go all out.

The Australian had earlier set a new Games record of 9.361 seconds in qualifying, while Azizul was ninth fastest in 9.715s.

Teammate Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom qualified 10th in 9.805s but was knocked out in the last 16 by another Australian, Daniel James Barber.

Azizul will now look to end his final Commonwealth Games campaign on a high by challenging for a podium finish in the 1km time trial, even though it is not his main event.