Azizul, Rizal and Shuang Guo shine for Asia

PRUSZKOW (Poland): Malaysian sprinter Azizul Hasni Awang helped put Asia's track cycling reputation into orbit on Sunday when he almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.

Only an hour after China's star Shuang Guo had given the Asians a huge boost with her maiden world title, in the women's keirin, Azizul came close to grabbing a first ever gold for his country in the men's sprint.

In the end, Azizul, Malaysia's flag-bearer at the Beijing Olympics, had to settle for silver as Frenchman Gregory Bauge powered his way to the finish line, and victory, after Azizul had forced a third-leg decider.

It meant Malaysia finished with two medals after Mohd Rizal Tisin had made history earlier in the week by claiming bronze -- Malaysia's first medal at the World Championships -- in the four-lap kilometre won by Stefan Nimke of Germany.

After being given a scare by Azizul, Bauge's cries of joy and relief echoed around the velodrome as he handed France their first world crown in the coveted sprint event since Laurent Gane in 2003.
Bauge admitted he had to dig deep to overcome the Malaysian.

"He's wily, and I knew it, but when you're on the bike it goes so fast that you have very little time to react," he said.

After missing out on progressing to the final of the keirin, his preferred event, Azizul used his tactical prowess and impressive speed to get past a host of bigger favourites in the sprint, sport's blue riband event.

His skills impressed spectators and former champions alike, including retired track great Arnaud Tournant of France.

"He's fast and tactically he's very talented," Tournant, who still holds the world kilometre record, said.

"And because he's small he can go places you wouldn't think about going yourself."

The 21-year-old from a small village in Terengganu, believed he could have come away with gold.

"I'm still happy with my silver medal. It's not too bad, but I'm a little bit sad because I knew I could do it," Azizul said.

The biggest plaudits for Azizul may have come from his coach John Beasley, who heads their track programme in Melbourne.

Beasley, a former coach of his native Australia, said: "He's such a good athlete to work with, always hungry to improve himself.

"And that'something you can't coach. At only 21, he's just a baby in track cycling terms but he has what it takes to be a great rider.

However, Asia was not to go without topping the podium, with Shuang Guo claiming her maiden world crown at the championships in the keirin.

The 24-year-old France-based racer, who hails from Inner Mongolia, was evidently happy with her first world title.

"I'm happy and very excited," Shuang Guo, who won sprint bronze in Beijing last August, said. -- AFP