Pocket Rocketman fails to get the better of Watanabe
Awang failed to defend his sprint title as he lost to Japan’s Kazunari Watanabe in the final at the Asian Track Championships in Nilai yesterday.
Watanabe took the first heat by edging Azizulhasni to the finish line by less than half-a-wheel. The second heat was even closer with Watanabe's advantage over the finish line barely two inches over Azizulhasni.
South Korean Im Chae Bin defeated Kazakhstan’s Pavel Vorzhev for the bronze medal.
A disappointed Azizulhasni admitted that it was the best he could do.
“The final was hard to accept but it was still good achievement,” said the 30-year-old.
“I was tactically spot on in both heats but the Japanese rider was running a heavier gear which was an advantage for him.
“It was the best I could do for the time being but there is still room for improvement.”
Earlier, Azizulhasni, known as Pocket Rocketman, had no difficulty overcoming India’s Ranjit Singh and Japan’s Tomohiro Fukaya in the first round and quarter-final but was forced to a decider by Vorzhev before winning in the last-four.
The event was meaningful for Azizulhasni as he had broken the 10-second barrier at sea level for the first time in his career.
Azizulhasni clocked 9.774s for top spot in the sprint qualifying round, bettering both his own national record of 10.073s as well as the Asian record of 9.843s.
Shah Firdaus Sahrom had also gone sub-10 in qualifying for the first time, clocking 9.97s for fifth. He, however, lost to China's Bi Wenjun in the first round.
“Shah went out for qualifying first and when I saw him going sub-10, it really got me pumped up. I felt really good but I was only expecting to go about 9.8s,” added Azizulhasni.
The women’s omnium saw Ju Pha Som Net, who won the points race on Friday, settle for seventh on 109 points.
In the men’s juniors, Zulhelmi Zainal edged Kazakhstan’s Maxim Gridchin for the gold in the individual pursuit. Zulhelmi clocked 3:24.985s in the final.
Alif Aiman Safuan also did well to take the silver in the sprint. He lost to India’s E. Esow in the final.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed that Malaysia will bid to host a UCI Track World Cup series round for the 2019-20 season.