Haiqal wants to sprint to glory in first senior race

MuhdHaiqal Hanafi(c) on his way to win the men's 150m gold.

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager sprinter Muhd Haiqal Hanafi dares to dream big.

The Form five student of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) is ready for his first senior international outing – the XXVI Kosanov Memorial Championships – in Almaty, Kazakhstan, which begins Saturday.

He has proven himself at the junior level by winning the sprint double in the South-East Asia (SEA) Youth Championships in Bangkok in April.

Last month, the Negri Sembilan sprinter clinched the double in the Under-18 category of the National Schools Sports Council (MSSM) meet in Kuala Terengganu.

The 17-year-old Haiqal, who has a personal best of 10.66 in the 100m, is excited about his debut in the senior international meet.

“I surprised everyone to win the double in the SEA Youth ... I hope to spring another surprise in Kazakhstan,” said Haiqal, who will feature in the 100m.

“I’m happy to compete against the senior sprinters as it will push me to clock a better time in Kazakhstan.

“This meet will also be a good exposure for me in my preparation for Sukma (Malaysia Games in Kuching from July 22-31),” added Haiqal, who won a silver in the 4x100m at the Asian Junior meet in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on June 5. The other members of relay squad were Khairul Hafiz Jantan, Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap and Asnawi Hashim.

Asnawi and Jonathan Nyepa will also be featuring in the 100m in Almaty.

Attention will also be on the women’s 4x100m quartet of Siti Fatimah Mohd, Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli, S. Komalam Shally and Nurul Faizah Asma Mazlan in Kazakhstan.

The quartet broke the national record of 45.33 by clocking 45.32 en route to winning the gold medal in the Singapore Open in April. Last month, they clocked 45.53 to win the gold in the Taiwan Open.