NILAI: Delivering the 111th gold medal for Malaysia in front of the home crowd was surreal and memorable.
This more-so as it is will be his last Sea Games, said national track-cyclist Azizulhasni Awang.
The Pocket Rocketman gave the nation its targeted 111th gold medal last night, beating compatriot Shah Firdaus Sharom in an all-Malaysian final of the men’s individual sprint final (track cycling) at the National Velodrome here.
“Winning the country’s 111th gold medal is a beautiful memory for me as a national athlete. It is also my last Sea Games.
“Even though I have won at the World Championships, this success here in front of the home crowd and family, is different. It feels like the Olympics,” Berita Harian reported.
The World keirin champion also explained that the incident where he fell on the track during the event’s second semi-final was due to the new and slippery track.
“I suffered a slight elbow injury and ripped my suit but it gave me focus to go all the way to beat Shah Firdaus.”
He added that the win marked his first individual gold medal after ten years of being successful in team sprint events.
Youth and Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin last night said Malaysia was already considered overall champions of KL2017.
Saying it was a “gift” to all Malaysians for the upcoming Merdeka celebrations on Thursday, Khairy further commented that he was confident the gold medal tally would climb to 120 by the time the Games ended.
Translated from Berita Harian