KUALA LUMPUR: Hafzanizam Bakhori became the first Malaysian to win a medal in the bouldering event at the Asian X Games VI yesterday, taking home the silver medal.
He finished behind Korean Son Sang-won at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil. Japanese Mogaki Keita came in third.
Hafzanizam’s effort on the last day of the Games helped Malaysia earn its highest-ever placing in the Asian X Games’ overall medal standings with one gold, two silver and one bronze – finishing behind Australia (3-2-3)and Japan (3-2-3).
Facing strong competition from former X Games champion Korean Lee Jae-yong, defending Asian X Games champion Japanese Akito Matsushima and competitors from Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Australia, Hafzanizam achieved the feat after scaling the first route and finishing more than 50% of the second route.
The bouldering event involves the competitor scaling two separate rock-climbing walls with separate routes, with each competitor given one attempt on each.
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PROUD MOMENT: Hafzanizam (right) lifting the Malaysian flag after winning the silver medal inthe men’s bouldering final at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Son (centre) won the goldand Keita took home the bronze medal. |
“I am unbelievably happy to be the first Malaysian to win a medal in bouldering and am even happier because I felt a 100% improvement in my performance this time,” said Hafzanizam, 22, from Alor Star.
In the other finals, Australian veteran Colin Mackay, 25, took home the gold in the bike stunt park event ahead of fellow countrymen Ryan Guettler and Clint Millar who got silver and bronze respectively.
Mackay earned his sixth ticket to the Summer X Games in Los Angeles.
Brazilian Latin American X Games gold medallist Sandro Dias took home the gold in the Skateboard Vert final ahead of Americans Neil Handrix and Mike Crum.
In the women’s bouldering final, Australian Samantha Berry reclaimed the gold she won two years ago but lost last year, finishing ahead of Korean Kim Ja-in and Japan’s Akiyo Noguchi, who finished with a silver and bronze respectively.
In the day’s last final, Saturday’s aggressive inline Vert champion Takeshi Yasutoko came in third in the aggressive inline park final, behind compatriot Soichiro Kanashima who claimed gold and Australia’s Nicolas Schopfer, who got silver.
