Mighty effort needed in Almaty for Azeem to reach Paris

PETALING JAYA: Sprinter Mohd Azeem Fahmi is saving his best for last in a bid to qualify for the Olympic Games.

After posting a poor time at the Malaysian Open, US-based Azeem must dip below 10.25s in the Kazakhstan Open from June 23 to 24 to meet the next Olympic Games qualification requirement, which is based on rankings.

World No. 64 Azeem has to finish among the top 48 to make the Road to Paris cut.

He failed to make the cut for the Olympics on merit after winning a gold in the men’s 100m with a time of 10.42, which is not even close to his national record of 10.09s. The goal is to hit 10s.

“In Almaty, I just want to improve my timing and if I can go lower than my season best, that would be good,” said Azeem.

His season best this year is 10.24s.

“But I still aim to hit the merit mark of 10s, and that’s a challenge I am giving myself. It is needed so that I do not be complacent.”

In the home Open at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Pahang, Jonathan Nyepa of Armed Forces finished second with a time of 10.54s, while Pahang’s Efrain Feerzan Khan took bronze with10.61s.

“Since winning a bronze at the Asian Games, I have not been able to clock a real good time,” added Azeem, who had to deal with jetlag as the Auburn University student had just returned from the US two days before the meet.

Meanwhile, in the 20,000m men’s walking final yesterday, Federal Territories’ Khor Jing Hong recorded a personal best of 1:42:12.05 to win the gold.

“It was satisfying because this is my best time in only my second competition in this category. I made a short pit stop at one point, if not, I would have set a better time,” he said.

“I hope to bring this momentum to the Malaysian Games (Sukma) in Kuching in August.”

Myanmar’s Pyae Phyo Tun took silver with a time of 1:47:31.78, while Melaka’s Fakrul Razi Jalani completed the podium with a time of 1:49:20.90.

RESULTS

MEN

4x100m relay: 1. Malaysian University 40.81s, 2. Terengganu 41.52s, 3. Sarawak 41.54s

5000m: 1. G. Vimal (Prk) 15:32.84, 2. K. Prabudass (Armed Forces) 15:37.03, 3. Mohd Asyhraf 16:13.180

High jump: 1. Sarvesh Anil (Ind) 2.23m, 2. Mahfuzur Rahman (Ban) 2.10m, 3. Dyllon Thye (FT) 2.09m

Long jump: 1. Andre Anura Anuar (Armed Forces) 7.62m, 2. Sapwatu Rahman (Ina) 7.46m, 3. Tan Zhi Hang (Pen) 7.13m

4x400m relay: 1. Johor 3:16.89, 2. Sabah 3:18.06, 3. Armed Forces 3:20.08

20,000 walk: 1. Khor Jing Hong (FT) 1:42:12.05, 2. Pyae Phyo Tun (Mya) 1:47:31.78, 3. Fakrul Razi Jalani (Mel) 1:49:20.90

Decathlon: 1. Wilson Quaik (Pen) 6013pts, 2. Arif Najdat Hassan (Sel) 5346, 2. Chin Sian Yuan (Pen) 5283

WOMEN

4x100m relay: 1. Johor 48.57s, 2. Terengganu 48.85s, 3. Armed Forces 49.38s

5000m: 1. Vanessa Lee (Sin) 17:26.62, 2. Nicole Low (Sin) 18:58.79, 3. Margaret Mary (Prk) 20:27.68

Discus throw: 1. Queenie Ting (Armed Forces) 47.21m, 2. Nur Atiqah Sofiah Hanizam (Joh) 43.92m, 3. Yap Jeng Tzan (Nse) 41.95m

4x400m relay: 1. Johor 4:00.30, 2. Terengganu 4:08.96Decathlon: 1. Elaine Wong (Swk) 3819pts, 2. Ng Yu Jie (Masum) 3767, 3. Tan Yen Yee (Pen) 3682