Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, Malaysia’s top track cyclist, recently shared the details behind his disqualification from the first round of the keirin event at the Paris Olympics. Azizulhasni, who was a strong contender for Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal, had his race cut short after overtaking the pacer, a violation of the race rules.
In his social media post, Azizulhasni expressed the disappointment and weight of the situation, explaining the strategy he and his coach, John Beasley, had devised. Given the challenge of starting from the sixth position, they decided the best approach was to move forward aggressively to avoid being boxed in by the front runners.
Azizulhasni described how, during the race, he was blocked and nearly forced off his bike by an aggressive move from a French rider. This caused him to unintentionally overtake the pacer, who, unusually, was moving at a slower pace of 40-45 km/h instead of the expected 50-55 km/h. Despite his efforts to slow down, Azizulhasni’s rear tire clipped the pacer before it exited, leading to his disqualification.
Coach Beasley and Team Manager Izham Mohammad immediately appealed to the race officials, asking them to review the race footage, but the decision to disqualify Azizulhasni was upheld. Azizulhasni noted that similar incidents in other races have led to a restart rather than disqualification, adding to his frustration.
Despite the setback, Azizulhasni urged his supporters to continue backing his teammate, Shah Firdaus Sahrom, who remains in the competition with hopes of bringing home a gold medal for Malaysia. Azizulhasni expressed his belief in Shah Firdaus’ abilities and asked fans to pray for his success.
Credit Photo : OCM
