AZIZULHASNI CLIMBS TO SECOND IN KEIRIN WORLD RANKINGS
Azizulhasni climbs to second spot in world keirin rankings
PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang has shot to second in the world rankings for men’s keirin following his back-to-back podium feat at the UCI Track World Cup series.
The 30-year-old moved from 13th place to be in second spot behind Australian Matthew Glaetzer – the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
Azizul charged from behind in the final lap to pick up a silver medal in the fourth round of the World Cup in London last weekend and picked up 450 points for a total of 2,445 points.
He received 400 points for winning a bronze in the previous round in Berlin, Germany, early this month.
Glaetzer, who won the sprint event in London, is just ahead with 2,500 points.
Japan’s top sprinter Tomoyuki Kawabata is third with 2,335 points while reigning world champion Matthijs Buchli of Holland – the keirin winner in London – is fourth with 2,280 points.
Fellow Malaysian sprinter Muhd Shah Firdaus Sahrom (pic) is in 39th spot with 1,028 points.
Moving into the top five in the world rankings matters for Azizul, who is hoping to qualify for a fourth Olympic campaign in Tokyo in 2020 and improve on the historic bronze he earned in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
“The Olympic qualifying campaign already started with the World Cup Series for 2018-2019, so I believe I am on track to make the cut for the keirin, which is my pet event,” said Azizul.
“I will also try to make the cut for the sprint. I did well to reach the third round in the keirin in London for the first time after a while.
“I am happy with my pace because I just lost narrowly to Britain’s Jack Carlin in the sprint.
“Now I will focus on the Asian Cycling Championships in Jakarta next month and after that the World Championships in Poland (in February) as these two also carries a lot of weight in terms of qualification points,” added Azizul, who claimed gold in sprint at the Indonesia Asian Games in August.
Azizul is ranked 15th for sprint with 1,456 points.