Shah seeks acceleration boost to spring Asian Games surprise

Shah Firdaus Sahrom aims to surprise competitors in the keirin event at the Asian Games, but acknowledges that he must first address his lack of acceleration which was exposed during the Commonwealth Games. While his right knee, which required surgery last year, is no longer the primary concern, rebuilding the power in his right leg remains a focus.

Currently, his coach is concentrating on his acceleration. Shah explained that once he reaches top speeds, there are no further issues. The challenge lies in transitioning from a slow to high speed. This weakness was evident in Glasgow, where he finished seventh in the keirin after failing to advance from the semi-finals. However, he recovered to win the consolation final.

Shah is keen to build his confidence and regain the explosive acceleration needed to compete with Asia's best from September 28th to October 3rd. His return to international competition started in April, with improvements evident. He won the sprint-keirin double at the Indonesia Track Cup in May and secured silver in the keirin at the Japan Track Cup behind Japan's Kaiya Ota, the 2022 Asian Games champion.

Shah has reclaimed the national elite keirin title, his first since 2022, and believes he can make an impact in Aichi-Nagoya, especially in the keirin. However, he remains cautious about the sprint, which heavily relies on raw power, an aspect he is still developing. Despite the challenges, Shah expressed confidence in his performance and his ability to deliver, particularly in the keirin.