KUALA LUMPUR: Track cyclist Ridwan Sahrom went through a rollercoaster of emotions before being crowned the King of keirin at the Malaysia Games today.
The Johor rider crossed the finish line in the final ahead of Perak's Ahmad Safwan Ahmad Nazeri for the gold medal at the National Velodrome in Nilai.
However, a team filed a protest which saw Ridwan and Ahmad Safwan relegated to the fifth and sixth spots.
The 21-year-old Ridwan was left stunned by the commissaire panel's decision and became angry before his team filed an appeal.
After deliberation and review, Ridwan was reinstated as the winner, with Zulfahmi Aiman Zulkurnain of Kedah picking up the silver and Terengganu's Umar Hasbullah settling for the bronze.
Ahmad Safwan remained sixth as he had used illegal methods to stop other cyclists from overtaking during the final.
Ridwan was in tears after he was declared the winner again. The keirin event is regarded as the "mother of all gold medals" in track cycling.
"I was sad after I lost the gold. My mood was affected, and I got angry. However, after the drama, I was named the winner. I waited for this moment for four years," said Ridwan, the most successful male track cyclist in this year's Malaysia Games with three titles.
He also won the sprint and 1km time trials titles earlier.
"As a pro rider, you will know if you have made mistakes during a race. I kept to my line during the race, and it was the other rider who made an illegal move.
"The gold is for my family. It is also a great way to end my Malaysia Games journey. I have won the mother of all titles in track cycling.
"I worked so hard for the last four years to win it."
Meanwhile, Kedah's Nurul Izzah Izzati Asri clinched the women's keirin title. Penang's Nurul Aliana Syafika Azizan and Selangor's Yong Ann Yii came in second and third.
In the men's 15km scratch race, Terengganu's Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan picked up the gold, followed by Perak's Yusri Shaari and Johor's Zulhelmi Zainal.
Perak's Nyo Ci Hui topped the women's 10km scratch race, while Johor's Siti Nur Adibah Akma Fuad and Terengganu's Nur Aisyah Munirah Che Ramli finished second and third.