KUALA LUMPUR: Melbourne-based cyclists Azizulhasni Awang and Fatehah Mustapa made promising starts in the Asian Cycling Championships as both cruised to the quarter-finals at the Cheras Velodrome here yesterday.
Azizul easily got the better of Iranian Ahmad Asgharpourdabi in the first round of the knockout stages to earn an automatic slot in the top eight slated to take place today.
Azizul had qualified with the third fastest time (10.393) behind in-form Chinese brothers – Zhang Lei (10.268) and Zhang Miao (10.266).
Moving along: Malaysia’s Zahraa Anuwar in action during the women’s elite points race final at the Cheras Velodrome yesterday. Fatehah advanced to the last eight by beating Huang Ting-ying of Taiwan in similar fashion.
Malaysian team-mate Jupha Somnet failed to join her after losing the first round of the knockout stage and subsequent repechage.
The 22-year-old Fatehah is virtually assured of a spot in the keirin at the London Olympics, having already picked up enough points in the World Cup series and last year’s achievement in reaching the World Championships final in Holland.
However, earning a double qualification in the sprint is also within her reach and coach John Beasley is hoping she will succeed to make history as the first Malaysian woman cyclist to ride at the Olympics.
“There is one quota for the Olympics for each country in the individual disciplines. She has to finish ahead of the Japanese sprinters here. If she makes the medal rounds, she will be in a good position to collect the ranking points.
“She had a lazy qualifying run in the morning but she did much better in the evening. She is looking good and I hope she gets into the medal round,” said Beasley.
Fatehah is also down for the 500m time trial today but the last minute entry of Guangzhou Asian Games gold medallist Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong has ruined the Malaysian’s chances of winning her first Asian title.
Wai Sze is strongly favoured to take the gold medal as she is the only Asian cyclist to dip below 35 seconds.
THE STAR
Azizul easily got the better of Iranian Ahmad Asgharpourdabi in the first round of the knockout stages to earn an automatic slot in the top eight slated to take place today.
Azizul had qualified with the third fastest time (10.393) behind in-form Chinese brothers – Zhang Lei (10.268) and Zhang Miao (10.266).
Moving along: Malaysia’s Zahraa Anuwar in action during the women’s elite points race final at the Cheras Velodrome yesterday.Malaysian team-mate Jupha Somnet failed to join her after losing the first round of the knockout stage and subsequent repechage.
The 22-year-old Fatehah is virtually assured of a spot in the keirin at the London Olympics, having already picked up enough points in the World Cup series and last year’s achievement in reaching the World Championships final in Holland.
However, earning a double qualification in the sprint is also within her reach and coach John Beasley is hoping she will succeed to make history as the first Malaysian woman cyclist to ride at the Olympics.
“There is one quota for the Olympics for each country in the individual disciplines. She has to finish ahead of the Japanese sprinters here. If she makes the medal rounds, she will be in a good position to collect the ranking points.
“She had a lazy qualifying run in the morning but she did much better in the evening. She is looking good and I hope she gets into the medal round,” said Beasley.
Fatehah is also down for the 500m time trial today but the last minute entry of Guangzhou Asian Games gold medallist Lee Wai Sze of Hong Kong has ruined the Malaysian’s chances of winning her first Asian title.
Wai Sze is strongly favoured to take the gold medal as she is the only Asian cyclist to dip below 35 seconds.
THE STAR
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