Pocket Rocketman believes he is still on course

THOUGH the hope of recapturing the keirin gold that he won in 2017 failed to materialise, Azizulhasni Awang believes his bronze on Thursday at the World Championships in Berlin is a blessing in disguise.

The Pocket Rocketman felt he was a bit unlucky in the keirin event but was content to take the bronze, his sixth medal in the world championships.

“I was drawn in first place (behind the derny) three times (Thursday), which tactically did not suit me,” said the 32-year-old.

“In the second last lap I moved forward when I saw there was movement from behind but I got boxed in and lost momentum.

“I tried to catch up with the front two (Dutchman Harrie Lavreysen and Japanese Yuta Wakimoto) but again I was squeezed out at the final turn and was forced to settle for bronze.”

Azizulhasni briefly led the six-man field in the final lap after the derny left the track at the Velodrome in Berlin. Stefan Botticher of Germany then took over until Lavreysen hit the front with just under three laps to go.

Lavreysen, the defending champion in the individual sprint event, held his lead to the finish, pipping Japan’s Yuta to the gold with Azizulhasni crossing the line a close third.

Defending champion Matthijs Buchli of the Netherlands and Olympic champion Jason Kenny of Britain failed to make it past the semi-finals. Kenny and Buchli placed eighth and 11th in the 7-12th decider.

Azizulhasni made it clear he was happy with his form ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in August.

Looking on the bright side, Azizulhasni said not winning the world title means there would be less pressure on him at the Olympiad.

“The focus here (Berlin) was on winning the rainbow jersey but I am happy to take the bronze for now,” added the Dungun-born rider.

“I believe it is God’s will to delay my win here (World championships). If I had won here today, I’d imagine the pressure on me (to win gold) at the Olympics would have been much higher.

“The team and I believe that we are on the right track in terms of riding and timing in the race but there is of course still much room for improvement before the Olympics.

“I also hope this minor victory of mine will bring together all Malaysians.”

The bronze is Azizulhasni’s first World Championship medal since winning the rainbow jersey at the 2017 edition in Hong Kong.

It is an encouraging result considering that Azizulhasni had almost severed his finger in a training mishap in September which required minor surgery.

He then suffered a heavy crash during the Brisbane leg of the World Cup series in December. Both incidents had disrupted his training.

Azizul will take to the track for the men’s individual sprint today.

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