Track Cycling World Championships appearance to close the year - Shah Firdaus
ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 21 -- The UCI Track Cycling World Championships in France next month will be the last international tournament for national rider Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom this year.
The 25-year-old rider said the decision to compete in the race was made after discussing with coach John Beasley and his family in Muar.
“We are preparing in Nilai for the tournament which is expected to be held from Oct 20,” he said.
Earlier, the Muar-born athlete received RM5,000 as an incentive for his participation in the Olympic Games, which was presented by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Ir Hasni Muhammad.
Muhammad Shah Firdaus, who will be making his third appearance at the world championships along with teammate Muhammad Fadhil Mohd Zonis, is expected to leave for France on Oct 10.
When asked about the injuries he suffered during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the 25-year-old said he had fully recovered.
"The injuries healed within two weeks. The crash I experienced that day took a month to recover. When I inhale and cough, it hurts. All praises be to Allah I have 100 per cent recovered from my injury and ready for the race next month,” he said.
Muhammad Shah Firdaus said he did not set any target but was determined to give his best at the tournament.
Regarding the training session in Australia, the young rider is still waiting for the opening of the country's border which is still closed.
At the Tokyo Olympics, in August, Muhammad Shah Firdaus was involved in a crash in the first round of the men's keirin race causing pain in his left ribs.
However, he bounced back in the repechage competition and finished second, thus advancing to the quarter-finals of the keirin event.
The 2019 Asian Championships keirin silver medalist also beat the country's number one rider Datuk Azizulhasni Awang in the same event at the 2021 Australian National Track Cycling Championship in March.
-- BERNAMA
