Arnaz M. Khairul
arnaz@nstp.com.my
Despite a crash involving four riders resulting in his leg being pierced by a wood splinter, Azizul managed to get back on his bike and stagger across the line.
The crash involved Azizul, Poland's Kamil Kuczynski, Edward Dawkins of New Zealand and Juan Peralta Gascon of Spain.
Azizul got back on his bike, while Dawkins pushed his over the line. Peralta ran to the finish line without his bike and was disqualified.
Azizul managed to bag the bronze medal, which was enough to retain his overall World Cup keirin title.
Azizul was promoted to third after Peralta was disqualified. But he missed his moment on the podium because he was on his way to hospital.
Britain's Chris Hoy, who won the gold, was one of only two riders who completed the race without crashing. Azizul pipped Hoy to the keirin series title that covers the four meetings that constitute the track World Cup.
National track team manager Datuk Naim Mohamad, who was with Azizul at the Royal Infirmary in Manchester, said Azizul was awaiting a scan yesterday morning before doctors determined the best way to remove the wood splinter from his leg.
"They have to do the scan to find out if the splinter pierced any veins or arteries, which could complicate things. The specialists say if all is well, Azizul will recover within a week."
"This just showed what a fighter Azizul is.
"You look at the splinter sticking out of his leg like that and you can't imagine how he managed to ride on and win the bronze medal."
Read more: Cycling: Azizul retains crown amid horror show http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/lk3c12/Article#ixzz1EZNOweTg
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