Malaysian sprint specialist Josiah Ng was disqualified from the men’s keirin at the world track cycling championships Thursday for obstructing Britain’s Chris Hoy.
Ng was ruled to have obstructed former world champion Hoy, who crashed to the boards seconds after the starters’ gun when the Malaysian rode right across the Scot’s path.
After a sluggish start Hoy went on to dominate his heat to qualify for the second round along with Australian Shane Perkins.
Also qualifying directly for the second round were Britain’s Matthew Crampton, German Maximilian Levy, Francois Pervis of France, New Zealander Sam Webster, Malaysia’s Azizulhasni Awang and Dutchman Teun Mulder.
Levy won the keirin world crown last year in Poland, where Hoy, the Olympic sprint, team sprint and keirin champion, was absent due to injury.
The repechages for the remaining racers will be held 1635 GMT while the keirin second round and final are scheduled for later Thursday evening.
While Ng was left disappointed Malaysia will now hope pocket rocket Awang, who won an historic sprint silver in the final against powerful Frenchman Gregory Bauge last year, can extend his run in the competition.