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Mohd Firdaus does the double in Japan

Asian junior champion Mohd Firdaus Zonis has won all his kierin races this year, the latest a double victory at the UCI Japan Track Grand Prix Series in Shizuoka. - Filepic
Asian junior champion Mohd Firdaus Zonis has won all his kierin races this year, the latest a double victory at the UCI Japan Track Grand Prix Series in Shizuoka. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Mohd Firdaus Zonis kept his perfect record in keirin intact by winning both the junior races at the UCI Japan Track Grand Prix Series in Shizuoka.

In the first series on Friday, the 17-year-old shrugged off the challenges from Hong Kong’s Leung Ka Yu and South Korea’s Jung Jae-hae to clinch the gold.

Firdaus, the reigning Asian junior champion, again proved too strong for his rivals in the second series on Sunday. He breezed through to the final before getting the better of Japan’s Yanada Kazugi and South Korean Jae-hee to complete his double.

Adiq Huznie Othman, the other Malaysian rider, also made the final of both series. He finished fifth and then sixth.

Firdaus has been unbeaten in keirin this year. He achieved a treble at the Hong Kong Track Cup two weeks ago, coming out tops in keirin as well as the sprint and 1km time trial.

Besides Firdaus’ two golds, Malaysia also bagged three silvers and a bronze in Shizuoka.

Farina Shawati finished second behind Japan’s Suzuki Nao in both the girls’ junior scratch and keirin.
The third silver came from Ju Pha Somnet in the women’s elite omnium. Ju Pha amassed 14 points behind Hong Kong’s Diao Xiao Juan, who collected 10 points.

Edrus Yunos and Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom made it to the men’s elite sprint semi-finals in the first series on Friday. They, however, lost to their Japanese counterparts. In the battle for bronze, Edrus managed to beat Mohd Shah.

Sprint coach Junaidi Nasir was delighted with the form showed by the juniors.

“Firdaus was targeted to win at least one keirin title here but I am happy he took both. He enjoyed the satisfaction of beating three Japanese riders in their own backyard for the second keirin gold.

“Firdaus should be able to win the sprint if the event was contested here as well,” said Junaidi.



 by Lim Teik Huat - The Star

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