The former Minister of Youth and Sports, and current radio DJ, Khairy Jamaluddin responded to the Pocket Rocketman’s disqualification from the Keirin event and shared his take on it.
In his Instagram story last night (August 10), KJ said the disqualification was a mistake. To him, it was too soon to give Azizulhasni an immediate red card.
“There was a clear precedent that a warning could’ve been given instead of an outright disqualification.”
KJ then described what happened during the Keirin event in Rio back in 2016 as an example, where 2 false starts happened which involved our very own Pocket Rocketman, and a British cyclist, Jason Kenny, as well as Joachim Eilers, a German cyclist.
All 3 were judged to have overtaken the derny.
“I remember because I was there in the pit of the velodrome with the team manager and coach.”
Similarly, all 3 countries appealed against the disqualification and KJ remembered clearly what he told the team manager, Amarjit Singh.
“We are lucky that Azizulhasni is not the only one who overtook the derny, and the other 2 cyclists were judged to have done the same. The judges will not dare disqualify the Western cyclists.”
Eventually, all 3 cyclists were given a warning before they were allowed to enter the final, in which Azizulhasni brought home a bronze medal and the gold medal went to Kenny.
Unfortunately, that was not what happened last night during the Keirin event in Paris. Our Pocket Rocketman was disqualified on the spot, and Azizulhasni believed that he was intentionally squeezed aggressively by the French rider.
In other Instagram stories, KJ also voiced his support for Shah Firdaus, who now carries the HUGE responsibilities as Azizulhasni’s successor in the competition and hopes to bring home the gold medal.
KJ also sent some words of support to Azizulhasni, and assured him that he had done his best.
“World champion, Olympic silver and bronze medallist. One of our greatest athletes of all time. Thank you, G.O.A.T, Azizulhasni Awang.”
To most Malaysians, the Pocket Rocketman’s legendary identity will remain in our hearts.
Also read: “I was squeezed aggressively by the French rider”- Azizulhasni Responds to Olympic Disqualification
