KUALA LUMPUR: Track cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom is one step away from a career breakthrough after reaching the keirin semi-finals at the World Track Cycling Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, on Thursday.
The 28-year-old will be competing in Heat 1 of the semi-finals with Colombian Kevin Quintero, Taiwan's To Cheuk Hei and Japanese Shinji Nakano and Kento Yamasaki later in the day.
It's a good start for Shah Firdaus, who has been anointed as the successor to Malaysian great and seven-time World Championships medallist Azizulhasni Awang who is skipping the event.
Shah's younger brother, Ridwan, ended his campaign in the first round repechage after failing to make the cut.
Meanwhile, Asian champion Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri and Anis Amira Rosidi lost in the first elimination round of the women's sprint.
Izzah ended up being relegated in her race with Germany's Alessa-Catriona Propster, while Anis was beaten by Japan's Mina Sato.