Shah Firdaus can be giant-killer, says Beasley

PETALING JAYA: Cycling coach John Beasley believes Muhd Shah Firdaus Sahrom is the "giant-killer".

It's for a good reason as the Australian reckons Muhd Shah is a star in the making for Malaysia on the international track cycling scene.

Shah Firdaus became the centre of international attention at the Anna Meares Velodrome during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April after beating an overly complacent world champion Matt Glaetzer of Australia in the first knockout stage of the sprint.

Glaetzer, a hot favourite for the sprint gold, had qualified fastest and set a Commonwealth Games record of 9.583 seconds in the process.

On the other hand, Shah Firdaus had taken the last qualifying spot, in 16th spot.

For all his heroics, Shah Firdaus did not win a medal. He lost to Kiwi Sam Webster in the semi-finals and then to Australian Jacob Schmid in the bronze medal decider.

But the experience certainly made Shah Firdaus bolder and he is looking forward to stamping his mark on the Asian Games stage in Jakarta.

The 22-year-old is racing in team sprint, sprint and keirin in his maiden Asian Games outing.

Azizulhasni Awang is considered the biggest hope for Malaysia to deliver gold in track cycling but Shah Firdaus is optimistic he can measure up to his illustrious senior.

Shah Firdaus, despite a heavy fall in the keirin the previous day, managed to recover and fight his way to earn silver in the China Track Cup events in Taiyuan last month.

“I managed to produce sub-10s times in both sprint qualifying rides (China Track Cup I and II).

“I am happy to be consistent and I know my preparations are on the right track. It will be great to smash my personal best of 9.867 I did at the Asian Cycling Championships in Nilai earlier this year.

“I am not setting many high targets other than to qualify for the keirin final at the moment as I do not want to put too much pressure on myself.

“The most important thing is to get the preparation process right. The experience in Gold Coast is just unbelievable as Glaetzer is absolutely fast. But I managed to beat him in his own backyard.

“It makes me feel like I can beat anyone after this,” said Shah Firdaus, who claimed bronze at the Track World Cup finale in Los Angeles early last year.

Track cycling takes place at Rawamangun Velodrome from Aug 27-31.