Shah Firdaus's Olympic dreams dashed in final bend crash

The collision on the final bend ended his race.

ASHWIN KUMAR
ASHWIN KUMAR
11 Aug 2024 07:58pm
National track cyclist Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (left) shows his support for Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom after qualifiying for the men's keirin finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome, today. - Photo by Bernama
National track cyclist Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang (left) shows his support for Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom after qualifiying for the men's keirin finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome, today. - Photo by Bernama

SHAH ALAM - National track cyclist Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom, Malaysia's last hope for an Olympic gold medal, crashed out of the men’s keirin event while in third place.

The collision on the final bend ended his race. Netherlands' Lavreysen Harrie claimed the Gold.

The final lap crash in the men’s keirin involved Shah Firdaus, Great Britain's Jack Carlin, and Japan's Shinji Nakano, all of whom did not finish the race.

This incident ended Malaysia's hopes for its first Olympic gold in the keirin event.

Malaysia's only medals at the Games were two bronze in badminton by Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Lee Zii Jia.

National track cycling champion Datuk Azizulhasni Awang had also been a gold medal contender but was disqualified yesterday for overtaking the derny before it exited the track.