Cyclist Nakano thinks highly of Malaysians, stop attacks, says Shah Firdaus

Cyclist Nakano thinks highly of Malaysians, stop attacks, says Shah Firdaus

The national track cyclist says the Japanese star told him he had always thought Malaysians were nice, friendly people.

Shinji Nakano-Shah Firdaus
National cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom says contact is a normal part of track racing, following his crash with Japanese rider Shinji Nakano on Sunday at the Paris Olympics. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
National men’s track cyclist Shah Firdaus Sahrom said the thousands of shameful social media comments received by his friend, Japanese cyclist Shinji Nakano, could affect their otherwise good relationship.

He added that Nakano sent him a message to say he did not expect to be criticised so harshly because he thought Malaysians were friendly, Bernama reported.

“Nakano said his site has tens of thousands of comments. I hope netizens will stop doing that because it really affects us, too. In keirin, body contact is normal. Nakano and I are fine.

“Nakano said he has good memories of Malaysia,” he told reporters at KLIA after arriving from Paris yesterday.

Nakano’s social media was flooded with comments from Malaysians after a collision between him and Shah Firdaus in the keirin final at the 2024 Paris Olympics last Sunday.

Netizens blamed Nakano after Shah Firdaus was relegated to sixth place in the men’s keirin final, missing out on a bronze medal opportunity.

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