Malaysia were left frustrated for the second year running after national cyclist Khairil Nizam was relegated in the final of World Junior Track Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The 17-year old from Muar ended up in third place, behind Australia’s Derek Radzikiewicz and Jiri Janosek of Czech Republic, but later it was speculated that he blocked another Czech rider Martin Cechman during the race.
That proved to be a big blow for Khairil, who was relegated to sixth, repeating the ill-fated relegation of Mohd Firdaus Zonis’ last year in South Korea.
Coach Junaidi Nasir said protests had been rejected by the commissaries’ panel.
“I just lost my head. I was really angry. We reviewed the video and saw no such infringement, but the commissaries just weren’t playing attention to us,” he commented, as quoted by New Straits Times.
Khairil Nizam will have a chance to redeem himself, when he joins Mohd Fadhil Zonis in the 200m sprint later today.
Photo credits: hmetro.com
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