AZIZULHASNI Awang and Shah Firdaus Sahrom will have a precious day of rest ahead of the keirin after their campaign in the men's individual sprint at the Tokyo Olympics came to an end in the third round yesterday.
Azizulhasni and Shah lost to Jeffrey Hoogland, who set a new Olympic record in qualifying on Wednesday, and world champion Harrie Lavreysen in their respective third-round heats at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka.
Hoogland and Lavreysen were part of the Netherlands team that won the team sprint gold on Tuesday.
In the repechage, Azizulhasni finished second behind defending champion Jason Kenny of Britain but ahead of Japan's Yuta Wakimoto.
Shah finished last in his repechage group behind France's Sebastian Vigier and Sam Webster of New Zealand. Only the group winners progressed.
The quarter-finals witnessed Hoogland downing Vigier while Lavreysen got the better of Kenny.
Britain's Jack Carlin and Denis Dmitriev of the Russian Olympic Committee complete today's semi-final lineup.
Azizulhasni and Shah's exit from the sprint competition is not a big surprise as they are focusing on tomorrow's keirin event, where their medal chances are substantially brighter.
Azizulhasni admitted that he had eased off the gas pedal in his sprint repechage yesterday.
"After a long day of racing (Wednesday), we decided that our mission (yesterday) was to beat the contenders, which in my case was Hoogland," said Azizulhasni.
"The plan was to save energy for the keirin and not pursue the repechage.
"Against Hoogland, I think I was tactically spot on. However, I just did not have the horsepower to beat him. In the sprint, you need extra strength and power, and I just could not match him in that aspect.
"In the repechage, I could have beaten Kenny as he was tired, but I decided not to... had I won, I would have to compete in the quarters. And if I lose the quarters, I will have to race in the classification round.
"I believe we are making a smart move by not racing too much because we know it is tough to win the sprint gold medal. The keirin is a completely different type of race.
"By finishing (individual sprint) today, we can have a full day of rest tomorrow before the keirin."
Azizulhasni and Shah completed six races, including repechages, throughout the sprint competition.
The former world champion said he was happy with his overall performance in the individual sprint event.
"I am quite proud of my performance (Wednesday). I qualified 17th but was able to go further (third round) than many of those who qualified above me," added Azizulhasni.
"These sprint races have given us a chance to warm up our engines ahead of the keirin.
"We will look to replenish our nutrition, stretch, ice and rest, so we can come back fresh for the keirin."
The first round of the keirin is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final on Sunday.