PETALING JAYA: National cyclist Azizulhasni Awang made a big splash in chilly Paris as he claimed a career third medal in the Track World Championships at the Velodrome de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in Paris on Friday morning.
Azizul crossed the finish line just ahead of 2009 world champion Maximilian Levy of Germany to claim a bronze in keirin and stand on the world championships podium for the third time since he broke into the national elite squad in 2007.
The newly crowned Asian keirin champion in Korat barely two weeks ago had won two silvers previously - in sprint in the 2009 edition in Poland and in keirin in Copenhagen the following year.
France's Francois Pervis retained his keirin title with a blistering final lap to win ahead of New Zealand's Edward Dawkins and Azizul.
Azizul grabbed a place in the top-six final after finishing third in his semi-final heat behind Pervis and Dawkins.
Azizul advanced to the semi-finals in style after winning his first round heat but there was no joy for fellow Malaysian Josiah Ng in his final international appearance for Malaysia. Josiah was eliminated after he failed to win his first round repechage.
There were shocks as former world champions Shane Perkins (2011) of Australia and Britain's Jason Kenny (2013) were among the first round casualties.
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