Selangor Journal
National track cyclist Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom undergo training in preparation to represent the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games scheduled to take place in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8, 2022. — Picture by BERNAMA

Shah Firdaus eyes podium finish in Hangzhou Asian Games

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — National track cyclists will have a packed schedule over the next few months as qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics intensifies but unfazed by the race to qualify for the Olympics, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom wants to focus on the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, at least for this year.

Fresh from winning a silver medal in the keirin event at the recent Belgium International Track Cycling Championships, he is determined to finish on the podium in Hangzhou, just like what he had accomplished at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

In 2018, the 27-year-old Muhammad Shah Firdaus, then making his debut in the games, clinched a silver medal from the men’s Team Sprint with the country’s track cycling ace Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang and Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis.

“InsyaAllah, I will try to emulate the success of 2018, but it is not easy to make any predictions because, in a few months, new faces may emerge but what I can judge is a strong challenge from Chinese and Japanese riders,” he told Bernama.

However, the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in the men’s keirin event said he would let coach John Beasley decide on the right time to peak so as to achieve the best performance.

“This year will be a very busy one. We have the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifying and qualifying for the World Championships as well as the Asian Games. It is a tricky situation but coach Beasley is tasked to decide when I must hit peak performance,” Muhammad Shah Firdaus said.

The 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou (delayed by Covid-19) will be held from September 23 to October 8.

— Bernama

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