KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang has continued to show progress ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the bronze medal in the men’s sprint event at the Japan Track Cup held at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka yesterday.
Despite being a former 2017 World Champion and winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the keirin event, Azizulhasni, who aims for gold in Paris, settled for bronze this time, conceding victory to two Japanese riders.
The race was clinched by Kaiya Ota, the gold medalist from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, while his compatriot Yuta Obara claimed the silver.
This is the first competitive overseas competition for Azizulhasni since the 36-year-old ‘The Pocket Rocketman’ won a bronze medal at the 2024 Australian National Championship in March.
Meanwhile, another Malaysian cyclist, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, finished in eighth place in the same event.
In the women’s category, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, a promising Malaysian track cyclist, faced tough competition from dominant Japanese riders, ultimately securing the seventh position.
The race was won by Mina Sato, the Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist, with compatriots Fuko Umekawa and Riyu Ohta taking second and third places respectively.
The Japan Track Cup 11 will continue tomorrow, with all three Malaysian riders set to compete in the keirin event, serving as crucial preparation for the Paris Olympics.
This championship forms part of the rigorous training schedule for Azizulhasni, Shah Firdaus, and Nurul Izzah as they strive for success in track cycling and aim to represent Malaysia at the Paris Olympics. — May 12, 2024