# Nakano takes gold ahead of home hero Shah Firdaus

*By Simon | February 25, 2025*

![Nakano takes gold ahead of home hero Shah Firdaus](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/nakano-worlds.jpg)

---

![](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/nakano-worlds-jpg.webp)

## 󠀁[Nakano takes gold ahead of home hero Shah Firdaus](https://globalkeirin.com/2025/02/nakano-takes-gold-ahead-of-home-hero-shah-firdaus/)󠁿

25 February 2025

Malaysia’s
[Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-shah-firdaus-sahrom/)
overcame a lingering knee injury to claim a heroic silver from the men’s keirin
competition at the Asian Track Cycling Championships, in front of his home fans.

But he couldn’t quite deliver the dream result at the Nilai track, with Japan’s
[Shinji Nakano](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/shinji-nakano/) snatching gold at
the line, and [Kaiya Ota](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/kaiya-ota/) taking
bronze just behind.

![Screenshot](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/acc25men.jpg)

Nakano and Ota had contested the sprint final at the weekend, with Ota winning
in two. Shah Firdaus had taken what he described as an unexpected bronze,
beating his brother
[Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-ridwan-sahrom/)
in two.

The Malaysians have made the most of home advantage, far surpassing the target
of three medals set by national coach Mohd Harnizam Basri.
[Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nurul-izzah-izzati-mohd-asri/)
had
[won the women’s event](https://globalkeirin.com/2025/02/izzah-izzati-wins-at-home-to-retain-asian-keirin-title/)
minutes earlier, and goes again in Wednesday’s kilo.

The keirin title remains with the Japanese team, following the victory of
[Kento Yamasaki](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/kento-yamasaki/) in New Delhi
last year. The world champion stayed at home this year, to compete in a pro
keirin event.

### 󠀁[ACC](https://globalkeirin.com/event/ba983209/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Asian Track Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/event/ba983209/ac05ebd6/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2025](https://globalkeirin.com/event/ba983209/ac05ebd6/21b5fc9e/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/nilai/">Nilai</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">25 Feb 2025</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">ACC Asian Track Championships 2025 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>JPN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/shinji-nakano/">Shinji Nakano</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>MAS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-shah-firdaus-sahrom/">Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>JPN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/kaiya-ota/">Kaiya Ota</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>IND</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/esow-esow/">Esow Esow</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>KAZ</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/andrey-chugay/">Andrey Chugay</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>KOR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/chengsu-kim/">Chengsu Kim</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

**Categories:** Original