KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Azizulhasni Awang won his 12th Asian title after finishing first in his pet keirin event at the Asian Track Cycling Championships held at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
Azizulhasni, who skipped last year’s championships to recover from open heart surgery, powered his way to the front of the queue after the pacer bike had left the track.
From there he bided his time, leaving behind Japanese rider Shinji Nakano in second place.
But with two laps left of the race, “The Pocket Rocketman” turned on the afterburners and left his rivals in his wake before pulling off a trademark wheelie before crossing the finish line.
This is Azizulhasni’s first Asian keirin title in eight years, having last triumphed in his pet event in 2015 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Today’s victory also sees him repeating his two-gold feat in sprint and keirin he achieved in Nara, Japan, in 2008 where he also claimed the team sprint silver medal.
On Friday, the 35-year-old won his 11th Asian title in the sprint category.
Nakano took home silver while another Malaysian rider, Shah Firdaus Sahrom, took home the bronze. – The Vibes, June 18, 2023
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