KUALA LUMPUR: Despite having a high fever, Shah Firdaus Sahrom showed indomitable spirit at the World Track Cycling Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Malaysian finished ninth in the keirin, improving on his 10th placing in the 2023 edition.
Kento Yamasaki won Japan's first world title in the men's keirin since 1987. Israel's Mikhail Yakovlev finished second and Colombia's defending champion Kevin Quintero was third.
Shah's younger brother, Ridwan, failed to make the cut from the first round repechage.
In the women's sprint, Asian champion Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri and Anis Amira Rosidi faltered in the first elimination round.
Izzah ended up being relegated in her race with Germany's Alessa-Catriona Propster while Anis was beaten by Japan's Mina Sato.
National coach Harnizam Basri said: "Shah raced well in the keirin although he was ill. Two days before the competition, he had high fever and he has not fully recovered.
"Ridwan looked nervous, racing against the big guns. He needs more exposure at world level.
"Izzah qualified 19th in the sprint. She won the first round, but was relegated. The commissaire said she blocked the German rider. Anis lacks experience at the high level and looked nervous."
The Sahrom brothers will shift their focus to the sprint event tomorrow. Izzah and Anis will compete in the keirin on Sunday.