Azizulhasni wins sprint bronze for fifth career Asian Games medal

NAGOYA: Azizulhasni Awang claimed a bronze medal in the men's individual sprint event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The 38-year-old Malaysian track cycling legend defeated Thailand's Jai Angsuthasawit 2-0 in the third-place playoff at the Izu Velodrome in Shizuoka. Azizulhasni, who had lost to China's Li Zhiwei 2-0 in the semi-finals, was third-fastest in the qualifying round, clocking 9.467 seconds.

He had also beaten Japan's Konata Takahashi 2-0 in the quarter-finals to secure his spot in the final four. This marked Azizulhasni's fifth career Asian Games medal. China's Li Zhiwei won the gold, while his fellow Malaysian Shah Firdaus Sahrom did not advance past the second round repechage. The men's keirin, a favored event for Azizulhasni and Shah, is set for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the women's individual sprint, Izzah Izzati Asri and Nur Alyssa Farid both advanced to the quarter-finals, with Izzah defeating Hong Kong's Ching Yin Shan and Alyssa downing Taiwan's Liu Shang-ying. Both Malaysian women had qualified with qualifying times of 10.764 seconds and 10.708 seconds, respectively. Malaysia has already secured two medals in women's track cycling, a silver in the women's team sprint event and a bronze in the keirin through Izzah.