Awang pockets Malaysia’s record-equalling 111th gold

Indonesia say Malaysians cheated in pencak silat

NILAI, Malaysia, Aug 28, (AFP): Track cycling world champion Azizulhasni Awang claimed Malaysia’s record-equalling 111th gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games on Monday in another processional day for the hosts.

Azizulhasni, the world keirin champion who is nicknamed “Pocket Rocketman” held off compatriot Mohammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom in an assured ride to win the men’s sprint final.

As Azizulhasni celebrated with his wife and children, the National Velodrome in Nilai went wild as it was confirmed that Malaysia had matched their 2001 national record of 111 gold medals.

Malaysia now looks set to rubberstamp their victory on the medals table on Tuesday, the penultimate and busiest day of the competition, when 60 gold medals are on offer.

Malaysia won three golds in track ing: “I knew Malaysia would cheat. This is not good for our athletes, but we now have to accept this.”

Indonesia’s Yolla Primadona Jumpil and Hendy, the defending champions, were reportedly enraged after coming second in the competition with 554 points, behind the Malaysian team’s 582.

“It has never happened before that judges awarded 582 points in this category. Never mind 582, even to get 570 is extremely difficult,” Prabowo said.

Twenty SEA Games gold medals are available in the Indonesian martial art, which is so popular that the competition was moved from its original venue to a bigger stadium.

“For me, it’s impossible (that Malaysia won),” Yolla was quoted as saying. “We met Malaysia not just once; we competed against them five times before and they never reached the podium. Here they finally stand on the podium.”

There was no immediate comment from SEA Games organisers, who earlier apologised to Indonesia — as did Malaysia’s foreign ministry and sports minister — for the flag error.

Table-topping Malaysia are on course for their most successful Games yet, after winning 96 gold medals heading into the penultimate day of full competition on Monday.

Malaysia’s coach urged his team to keep their feet on the ground and not be swept up by a wave of excitement in Tuesday’s Southeast Asian Games men’s football final against Thailand.

Expectations are sky-high after the hosts narrowly beat Indonesia 1-0 in the semifinals to stand on the verge of their sixth title in the competition, which is for under-22s.

But Ong Kim Swee, who also coached Malaysia when they last won the SEA Games trophy in 2011, told his players to keep a cool head against Thailand, the holders and 13-time champions.

“It’s good that we didn’t concede against Indonesia. This will give us more confidence heading into the final. But we must stay grounded,” said Ong, according to The Star.

“Thailand are a good team. We have to be focused against them.”

Malaysia’s Muhamad Azizul Hasni Awang competes in the sprint men’s qualifying cycling heat of the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Nilai on Aug 28. (AFP)

Victories over Brunei, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos propelled Malaysia into the semis, where they edged Indonesia thanks to N. Thanabalan’s 87thminute header.

Malaysia are enjoying a surge of success at the SEA Games, as the hosts sit well clear at the top of the medals table on 96 golds with only two full days of competition to go. No. 51 Chevy built in 2008, but the front end had to be pieced back together following a wreck two weeks ago at Mid-Ohio.

But Tony Clements figured that a road course like Road America might provide a more level playing field against more well-funded teams, especially on a weekend when the top-level Monster Cup series wasn’t racing on the same track. Pit strategy paid off on an overcast afternoon on the 4-plus mile, 14-turn road course.

All the twists and turns can take a toll on tires, and second-place finisher Michael Annett said drivers also had to deal with some wet track around turn 12. Qualifying for the 45-lap race was cancelled because of weather, with rain having fallen earlier in the morning.

Working with fresh tires down the stretch, Clements chased down Tifft after pitting with nine laps left to surrender the lead. Clements finally caught up with Tifft on the 44th lap, with their cars spinning into the dirt on the last turn of the 14-turn road course.

The 32 year-old Clements recovered first and sped away to victory on the last lap. Annett passed Tifft to take second, 5.8 seconds behind Clements.

Tifft settled for third.

Elliott Sadler finished in 14th, but the series leader holds a 107-point lead over second-place William Byron.

WHO’S HOT: The early portions of the race were just as eventful as the end. Daniel Hemric took the second 10-lap stage that included four cars spinning out of the left-hand Turn 5. Hemric finished in 15th but captured his second stage win of the season. He is fifth in the driver standings.

WHO’S NOT: James Davison said his No. 20 Toyota got clipped in the scrum around Turn 5 and a cracked radiator knocked him out of the race. He was knocked to the back of the field for Stage 2 because of a speeding violation on pit row.

It was a memorable afternoon until then for Davison, who started second

and led the first 11 laps to win the first stage.

CINDRIC DEBUT: The starting grid was determined by owner points, so Austin Cindric took the pole in his No. 20 Ford for Team Penske in his Xfinity series debut. The son of Penske team president Tim Cindric got a preview of the tight racing to come by competing in the ARCA series race earlier Sunday, finishing 12th in that race.

HE SAID IT: “It’s pretty neat to be this field with about a 10-year-old car.” — Jeremy Clements. He said the team is slated to debut a new car at Richmond on Sept 8, the first time that they will have a new car in at least three years.

UP NEXT: Darlington Raceway, Sept 2. Sadler is the defending champion.