KUALA LUMPUR: World keirin champion Azizulhasni Awang has been given a welcome boost ahead of the World Track Championship in The Netherlands by returning to the top 10 list of the world’s best keirin riders.
According to the latest rankings released by the International Cycling Union (UCI) for keirin, Azizulhasni, who is more popularly known as 'The Pocket Rocketman', has moved up the standings to eighth with 1,981 points, up eleven places from his previous position of 19th.
It is a direct result of his recent achievement in taking bronze for keirin at the 2018 Asian Cycling Championship (ACC) that was held at the National Veldrome last week.
The top seven spots are dominated by Europeans with Ukranian Andrii Vynokurov in top spot with 2,875 points.
Another national cyclist, Shah Firdaus Sahrom jumped twelve places up to 11th which puts him just outside the top 10.
Both of Malaysia’s elite riders are scheduled to take part in the Word Track Championship which will be held at the Omnisport Velodrome in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands from Thursday onwards.
Azizulhasni will be taking part in keirin and individual pursuit, while Shah Firdaus will be featuring in keirin as well.
Azizulhasni left for the Netherlands in high spirits after setting a new national and Asian record during qualifying for the individual pursuit at the ACC with a time of 9.774s.
His achievement ended a decade long wait in setting a sub 10 second timing, with Shah Firdaus getting in on the act by setting an equally impressive time of 9.977s.
The Terengganu born rider has expressed confidence that he can do well at the World Track Championship as his preparations are on the right track to defend his world title which he won in Hong Kong last year.