GLASGOW: There was no shame in failing to win the gold for Azizulhasni Awang as the Malaysian showed just what a precious talent he is with a bronze medal finish in the Commonwealth Games keirin on Sunday.
Dwarfed by the rest of the field - which consisted three Australians and two New Zealanders, Azizul proved that size makes no difference when one has talent and determination as he fought his way to the bronze.
Such was Azizul's determination that eventual gold medallist Matthew Glaetzer and silver medallist Sam Webster were only sure of their medals after a photo-finish review.
"I gave it my best and I was even confident of the gold with two laps to go but with one lap remaining, I found myself blocked by Glaetzer - just as what had happened in New Delhi four years ago - and I hesitated.
"I was thinking whether to go hard or just focus on a medal and in the end, I just cycled to the best of my ability and really thought I had won either the gold or silver," said Azizul at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
The photo-finish showed Glaetzer had been half a wheel ahead at the finish line while Webster, who beat Azizul in the sprint quarter-final, had just nudged in front.
"Despite not being able to make up for the disappointment of New Delhi, I am glad to have won a medal which I dedicate to the cycling squad and Malaysia."
Azizul was disqualified after having won the gold in the 2010 Games for overly aggressive riding, hence his fear on Saturday.
"I am sorry for not winning the gold but I am still proud as the bronze was won in a world class field."
There was no joy for Fatehah Mustapa though as she failed in her bid for a medal after she lost the sprint bronze playoff to England's Jess Varnish. Stephanie Morton beat Olympic champion Anna Meares in a duel between Australians to win the gold medal.
Earlier on Sunday, Malaysia added another two silver medals to their haul thanks to the women's table tennis team and lawn bowls fours.
The table tennis team, who improved on their bronze from four years ago, lost 3-0 to Singapore in the final.
Ng Sock Khim was the first in action and she started with a 11-7 win but the class of Yu Mengyu was just too much as the Singaporean bounced back to win 11-5, 11-9, 11-9.
Beh Lee Wei offered just token resistance as Feng Tianwei romped home 11-8, 11-5, 11-4. Lee Wei and Ho Ying won a game but Mengyu-Lin Ye were just too strong as they wrapped up the tie 11-9, 11-13, 11-9, 11-5.
Lawn bowlers Emma Firyana Saroji, Nur Fidrah Noh, Nor Hashimah Ismail and Azlina Arshad had to be satisfied with the silver after blowing a 9-4 lead to lose the final 14-9 to Esme Steyn, Santjie Steyn, Tracy-Lee Botha and Susan Nel of South Africa.
There was no medal won in swimming but the men's 4x200m freestyle lived up to coach Paul Birmingham's expectations as they bettered the national record twice at the Tollcross Swimming Centre.
Kevin Yeap,Vernon Lee, Lim Ching Hwang and Welson Sim first clocked 7:26.98, which bettered the previous mark of 7:27.32s, en route to qualifying for the final.
The record was bettered again in the final as the Malaysians clocked 7:26.74s in finishing seventh as Australia set a new Games record of 7:07.38s. Scotland won the silver and South Africa the bronze.
In hockey, Malaysia's semi-final hopes suffered a blow as the men lost 8-1 to England. After a steely first half which ended 1-1, K. Dharmaraj's men collapsed in the second as they conceded seven goals.
Malaysia had opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Canada on Saturday and play Trinidad & Tobago next.
The weightlifters failed to follow up on Mohd Hafifi Mansor's exploits of the day before as Abdul Mubin Rahim finished fifth in the men's 77kg category while Loro Wellkinson Peuji failed to finish after not registering a lift in the snatch.
Malaysia are in the running for three gold medals today as the national shuttlers, lawn bowls pair Fairul Izwan Abd Muin-Muhd Hizlee Abdul Rais and Nicol David advanced to their respective finals today.
Mixed doubles scratch pair Chan Peng Soon-Lai Pei Jing were the Malaysian heroes as they came from behind to seal the third point in the 3-2 win over Singapore in the semi-final.
Peng Soon-Pei Jing lost the first game 17-21 but the pair showed nerves of steel as they pulled themselves back to win 21-12, 21-14 to steer Malaysia into the final against England, who beat India 3 -0 in the other semi-final, today.
Men's doubles Goh V Shem-Wee Kiong got the ball rolling for Malaysia when they beat Danny Chrisnanta-Chayut Triyachart 21-17, 18-21, 21-16.
Tee Jing Yi was no match for Liang Xiaoyu in the women's singles, losing 21-12, 22-20.
Chong Wei Feng, a hero of the Thomas Cup campaign, faced no such problems as he dictated play from the start to easily see off the challenge of Derek Wong 21-9, 21-18 in the men's singles.
Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Kah then fell at the hands of Shinta Mulia Sari-Yao Lei, who won 21-9, 21-18 but Peng Soon-Pei Jing then came to Malaysia's rescue.
Nicol faced no such problems as she was in her element in the semi-final against Joelle King of New Zealand, winning 11-6, 11-8, 11-5. The World No will face England's world champion Laura Massaro, who beat compatriot Alison Waters 11-5, 12-14, 11-3, 11-8,in the final today.
Fairul Izwan-Muhd Hizlee will face Scotland in the lawn bowl pairs final after beating Namibia 23-15 in the semi-finals.