KUALA LUMPUR: National track cycling team head coach (sprints) Harnizam Basri has warned that the men's keirin at the Shanghai World Championships will be no walk in the park for Azizulhasni Awang despite the withdrawal of sprint world record holder Matthew Richardson.

Harnizam said Azizulhasni's path to the podium in the keirin, which will be held tomorrow, is still tricky as he will have to navigate a field eager to secure their first qualification points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The Shanghai world meet marks the start of the Olympic qualifying window for LA 2028.

"As we all know, the keirin is a very open competition," said Harnizam when contacted in Shanghai today.