AZIZULHASNI AND SHAH FIRDAUS QUALIFY FOR SPRINT SEMIS
CYCLISTS Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Shah
Firdaus Sahrom (pic) pedalled their way to the semifinals of the men's sprint competition after winning their lasteight battles in contrasting fashions.
Azizul sounded his intention by blowing away Japan's Yuta Wakimoto in two heats and was already celebrating by raising a hand up even before he crossed the finish line at the Jakarta International Velodrome yesterday.
Azizul later watched from the sidelines as teammate Shah Firdaus marked his Asian Games debut in the sprint by coming from behind to beat China's top sprinter Xu Chao in three heats.
Shah Firdaus lost the first heat in a photofinish but kept alive his hopes by winning the next heat.
He upped his game by taking out Xu Chao by half a wheel in the decisive third heat.
Azizul and Shah Firdaus started their campaign by placing fifth (10.046) and seventh (10.053) respectively in the qualifying rounds earlier in the day.
Azizul then brushed aside South Korean Seok Hyeyun while Shah Firdaus edged Law Tsz Chun of Hong Kong to reach the quarterfinals.
Azizul will take on South Korean Im Chaebin, a winner of the team sprint gold medal for South Korea at the last Asiad in Incheon four years ago, for a place in the final.
And he is hoping his younger teammate Shah Firdaus gets the better of Japanese Tomohori Fukaya in the other semifinal matchup.
Shah Firdaus, his confidence bolstered after beating Xu Chao, is hoping to take it further.
“Let's do it for Malaysia. Coach John (Beasley) wants us to win our semis tomorrow to confirm the gold,” said Shah Firdaus, who already has a silver medal from the team sprint event on Monday.
“I’ve nothing to lose and I know I have the speed to go for it.
“Most importantly, we must not to lose focus as it is a tactical fight from the knockout stage.”
Ju Pha Som Net came close to winning a medal in the women's omnium yesterday. The Perlisborn rider amassed 118 points at the end of the fourevent discipline to place fourth behind South Korean Kim Youri, who took bronze with 121.