Top Malaysian Cyclists Put Rivalry To Good Use

By Joshua Foong LONDON, Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Despite how the facts and figures may illustrate a fiery rivalry between national star track cyclists, Josiah Ng and Azizulhasni Awang are peddling the nature of their competitiveness to good use. With only one spot offered for each country for the keirin category, the two are using this situation to bring the best out of their abilities on track. "Azizul and I maintain a very good relationship as fellow athletes. Of course, when it's down to the both of us in a race, we would want to win," Ng, 32, told the Malaysian press after the UCI World Cup on Sunday. "Without Azizul, I don't think I would have been able to revitalise my career to as it is now," said the recently-crowned Asian keirin champion. Azizul, who was also present with Ng, said the competitive mood he shared with Ng had greatly complemented and spurred them to perform better. "We also share a common aim, which is to give it all we can to clinch the keirin gold medal for Malaysia in London, come August," he added. Based on statistics, it may seem there is heating up with both of them at par with nine points in the World Cup keirin rankings sharing the 10th spot. They have also been edging one another out on track, with Josiah emerging victor at the recently-concluded Asian Cycling Championships in Cheras on Feb 12 and previously, at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Shortly after, Azizul responded, edging Josiah off the gold medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games. The performances of Ng and Azizul have assured Malaysia a spot in the keirin discipline as the top ranked Asian country, the first out of only two Asian teams competing in the Olympics. However, during last weekend's London showing, the duo did not make it to the final, as they had hoped. Azizul, who was down with hay fever managed to inch into the second round but was drawn to be against heavyweights like Britain's Sir Chris Hoy, German Rene Enders, Greece's Christos Volikakis and Teun Mulder from Holland. Meanwhile, Ng finished third in his first round heat and did not complete the repechage after he was involved in a crash with Ireland’s Eoin Mullen on the final lap. Head coach John Beasley will have much to think about in the weeks to come for both riders to continue to improve. Both Ng and Azizul will be put under performance reviews, and with the coming World Championships in Melbourne on April 4 to 8, they individually have to make a strong point to Beasley, who will decide who gets to be Malaysia's keirin representative. -- BERNAMA Malaysia cycling