Cyclists to focus on qualifying for Tokyo Olympic keirin events
SEPANG: The national cycling team have given up hope on the team sprint qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games but there is still much to aim for.
Malaysia are currently 13th in the latest world rankings for the event but only the top eight, irrespective of their continents, by end of March next year will be on board for the Games.
Qualification for the event is important as it gives two additional slots each for the individual sprint and keirin.
Malaysia needed to win the event at the Asian Track Championships in Jincheon, South Korea, last week but Azizulhasni Awang’s withdrawal due to a finger injury put an end to their bid.
Starter Fariz Haikal Mohd Kadir, Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Mohd Fadhil Zonis came in fourth after losing the bronze to South Korea.
Azizul, Shah Firdaus and Fadhil were the silver medallists at the Indonesia Asian Games last year.
The last time Malaysia qualified for the team sprint was through Azizul, Josiah Ng and Rizal Tisin at the 2008 Beijing Olympics where they finished seventh.
Coach John Beasley admitted getting the team sprint in is out of Malaysia’s reach and the mission now is to qualify for the individual sprint and keirin.
“There is no way we will get in. We would have got a shot at it with our best team out there but these things happen.
“There is still the World Track Championships in Berlin, Germany, next year (February) and we will try to prepare our best team to aim for a top-six finish,” said the Australian.
“Both Azizul and Shah Firdaus will try to make the cut for the individual keirin and sprint.
“There is no question Azizul is going to qualify for the keirin as he is in a comfortable position but we hope he can get the additional slot for keirin.
“Winning the Asian sprint title has given him very good ranking points as it is the second most important event behind the World Championships, so he is on track.
“Shah Firdaus is also fighting for a spot and he will be given the opportunity to collect ranking points.”
Shah Firdaus and Fadhil, along with Anis Amira Rosidi, will travel to Minsk, Belarus, for the first leg of the UCI Track World Cup next weekend.