Rio 2016: I was dead worried.. I could be disqualified - Azizulhasni
Azizulhasni Awang poses on the podium with a flag after the Men's Keirin finals track cycling event at the Velodrome during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. - AFP Photo
National elite cyclist Azizulhasni Awang was in great fear of disqualification after the keirin race had to be
restarted twice in the final at the Rio Olympic Games here on Tuesday.
After making it through the heats and placed himself in the final six cyclists for medal contention, the 28-year-old rider had to endure agonising moments at the Olympic Velodrome after the final was stopped for technical infringement.
As the starter-gun fired for the eight-lap race, Britain's Jason Kenny went off the line before the derny opened the lane in the seventh lap.
"I was dead worried and my heart pounded fast because I could be faulted and among the riders that could be disqualified.
"Getting disqualified at this stage is a disaster because such offence warrants disqualification... however the jury didn't penalise anyone and restarted the race," he said.
Azizulhasni finished the race with a bronze medal behind Kenny and Dutchman Matthijs Buchli.
"If I, an Asian rider, were to breach the derny.... sure I will be disqualified but here I think because the riders are 'whiteman'... no one was penalised," said Azizulhasni who was the only Asian in the final round.
The derny is a motorised bicycle ridden by a biker to lead the procession of Olympic cyclists in the keirin event.
On his plans, Azizulhasni said he wanted to finish his final year in sports management course in a university in Melbourne, Australia, where he has been based since 2007.
Meanwhile, national track cycling head coach, John Beasley said he was happy for Azizulhasni despite his desire for the gold.
Astro Arena's exclusive interview with Azizulhasni after his bronze-medal performance
He said Azizulhasni would complete his degree in January and that would be his main focus for the rest of the year.He said the cyclist also desired to compete and win the gold in the individual keirin and sprint races at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
"He has not won a medal in an individual event in the SEA Games and badly wants to do that next year," said Beasley.
The Australian coach has been training Azizulhasni and other track cyclists for almost a decade and has been roped in for the Podium Programme.
The Podium is a tailor-made programme to prepare handpicked athletes for medals in regional and international games.
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