Track sprinters eye another London spot

THERE could be an ideal solution to the battle between Azizulhasni Awang and Josiah Ng for Malaysia's single slot at the London Olympics on July 27-Aug 12.

FATEHAH MUSTAPA

Both may yet feature in the Olympics if they can at least make the quarter-finals in the 200m sprint at the UCI Track World Championships in Melbourne on April 4-8.

   The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) has thrown a challenge to the battling track sprinters to book another spot for the nation in the 200m sprint.

   "We've qualified via the nation's rankings for the men's keirin, but there's still a chance we can book another slot in the 200m sprint," said MNCF deputy president and track team manager Datuk Naim Mohamad.
   "As it stands, China and Japan have qualified for the team sprint, thus automatically have slots in the 200m sprint. There are eight spots remaining for those who did not qualify via the team sprint and this is what our riders should be targeting."

   Azizulhasni, 24, and Josiah, 32, will both feature in the World Championships, alongside Edrus Yunos, 25, who was last month crowned Asian 1km time trial champion.

  Just as she will be in the Olympics, Fatehah Mustapa, 22, will be the sole women's representative and will start the women's keirin, scratch race and 500m time trial in Melbourne.

   "The plus point this time is that we've qualified for more events than we did at last year's World Championships, although three of them are non-Olympic events," said Naim.

   Results at the World Championships, said Naim, will also be one of the criteria for selection, should there be no other slot available come the Olympics.

   "If we are left with just that one slot in the keirin at the Olympics, then the World Championships keirin will be taken into account, among other things, when we have to decide which of the two sprinters we send to the Olympics," said Naim.

   "If we do gain another slot via the 200m sprint, then we will leave it to the head coach John Beasley to decide which event Azizulhasni and Josiah will be assigned to at the Olympics."


NST