PETALING JAYA: National sprinter Azeem Mohd Fahmi will compete in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) for Perak if he does not get a wildcard to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris next month.
The Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) have to choose between Azeem and the women's 400m Shereen Samson Vallabouy to award the wildcard. The wildcard is only offered for athletes to compete in either 100m or 800m.
Shereen is willing to switch to 100m if given a wildcard.
Azeem will leave it to the selectors to decide.
"If I am not selected for the Paris Olympics using a wildcard, I will not be slighted or disappointed because, for me, the parties concerned will be making the best choice," said Azeem to Bernama after returning from Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
He failed to qualify for the Olympics on merit during the Kazakhstan Open and on paper, it also looks difficult to qualify as one of the 56 athlete based on the ranking for the event.
"I will accept any decision with an open heart. If I don't have the chance to compete in the Paris Olympics this year, my goal will certainly be Los Angeles Games in 2028," he said.
His next option is to compete in Sukma as he is grateful to Perak State Sports Council for grooming him in his younger days,
"If you ask me, I want to help Perak because they have helped me a lot since I was young. Even when I was 14 years old, the state helped me a lot and provided me with training equipment and accommodation, like at the previous Sukma in Kuala Lumpur and Perak," said Azeem.
"This is the story of a Teluk Intan boy with a big dream. If there is a chance to represent Perak at Sukma, I will do my best. The main mission is to hunt for two gold medals in the 100m and 200m events," said Azeem, who will also be competing in the 2024 Asean University Games (AUG) in Malang and Surabaya.
