National Track Cyclist Cleared to Compete in Asian Track Cycling Championships
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 18 (Bernama) – National track cyclist, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom is cleared to compete in the individual sprint event at the Asian Track Cycling Championships (ATC) 2025 to be held at the National Velodrome, Nilai from Feb 21-27.
The development was confirmed by national track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri after the 29-year-old athlete met with the National Sports Institute today to assess the knee injury he suffered during a recent training session.
To ensure that his injury does not worsen, Harnizam admitted that Shah Firdaus only needs to qualify for the quarter-finals to remain in the world’s top 10 in the sprint event.
"If Shah reaches the quarter-finals, he will get at least 200 points and will probably remain in the top 10 in the world. Hopefully he will be able to be in the top eight in the individual sprint event at the championship," Harnizam said.
Shah Firdaus reportedly said that the sprint event requires cycling from low to high levels compared to the keirin which depends a lot on the tactics and strategy of the race.
Despite his injury, which he sustained while preparing for the ATC, Shah Firdaus is still positive about chasing a slot in the final for the keirin event at the prestigious race.
"Now I really want to maintain my top 10 world ranking, but for the keirin event which is important one step at a time, I want to get to the final first, I will give what I can give," he said.
Shah Firdaus also revealed that the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) results last week confirmed that he had suffered a medial quadriceps tendon injury which forced him to go through a special recovery process.
The 29-year-old athlete said the injury occurred when he was preparing for the ATC recently and that it will take a long time to heal.
"This two years I want to build myself up, but this is the risk, it can cause injury before the ATC. I was stressed and sat there not knowing what to do. I need to recover. This injury takes a long time to heal because the knee is used for pedaling," he said.
Conclusion
Shah Firdaus’s participation in the ATC is a welcome relief for him and his coach, Harnizam, as it allows him to maintain his top 10 world ranking and potentially win a medal in the individual sprint event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the outcome of Shah Firdaus’s meeting with the National Sports Institute?
A: The meeting confirmed that Shah Firdaus is cleared to compete in the individual sprint event at the ATC.
Q: How does Shah Firdaus’s injury affect his participation in the ATC?
A: The injury may worsen if he does not qualify for the quarter-finals, but he is expected to qualify and maintain his top 10 world ranking.
Q: What is the recovery process for Shah Firdaus’s injury?
A: The injury requires a special recovery process, which includes a long period of rest and rehabilitation to ensure that the knee is fully healed.
Q: What are the expectations for Shah Firdaus in the individual sprint event?
A: Shah Firdaus is expected to qualify for the quarter-finals and potentially win a medal, but he needs to maintain his top 10 world ranking to achieve this goal.