Malaysia ends Paris Olympics campaign with two bronze medals after cyclist Shah Firdaus crashes in Keirin final

Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom’s hopes of winning his first Olympic Games medal ended in disappointment at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome today.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t secure a medal as he, Jack Carlin of Britain, and Japan’s Shinji Nakano crashed in the last lap in the Keirin final, handing Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands his third gold medal of the Games. Australians Matthew Richardson and Matthew Glaetzer finished second, and third, respectively.

Malaysia concluded the Paris Olympics with two bronze medals in badminton – Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) and Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles).

Shah Firdaus, the 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, qualified for the final despite finishing fourth in the semifinals behind Richardson, Lavreysen, and Ota Kaiya of Japan. Only the top three qualify for the final.

Kaiya, the Asian Games champion, entered the semifinals on a yellow card and received a second warning, which saw him relegated from third to fourth place. Hamish Turnbull (Britain) and Luca Spiegel (Germany) failed to finish after crashing into each other.

Shah Firdaus’ disappointment turned to elation moments later when he discovered Kaiya’s fate.

Shah Firdaus reaching the final made up for Datuk Azizulhasni Awang’s disappointment of being disqualified after he overtook the derny before it left the track during his first-round heat yesterday.

Azizulhasni committed a similar offence in 2016, but rule changes after that Olympics mean it is now an immediate disqualification.

In the quarterfinals, where the top four advanced, Shah Firdaus finished behind Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer and Britain’s Jack Carlin, and just ahead of Kaiya.

Main image: Olympic Council of Malaysia