Armin, buoyed by his personal best time in Gumi, eyes better results in SEA Games

Full of potential: Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif hopes to deliver at the SEA Games in Thailand.

PETALING JAYA: National 110m hurdles athlete Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif has set big hopes in his SEA Games debut in Thailand this December.

The 20-year-old has earned his ticket to Thailand by setting a new personal best at the Asian Track and Field Championships in Gumi, South Korea last month.

Armin recorded 13.85s in the third heat, and he turned heads as his time was quicker than senior runner Mohd Rizzua Haizad’s, who clocked 14.08s.

It was his first international tournament competing in Gumi, and Armin was beyond happy to have set a new personal best there.

“I am very grateful for it. I wanted to cry because I got a personal best overseas and it was my first time competing abroad.

“I want to continue working hard to run even faster,” he said.

Armin’s time in Gumi was also just off the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games third-place time of 13.86s, further showcasing his potential skill.

The Terengganu athlete won the 110m hurdles gold at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) last year, clocking 14.26s.

Armin will get a taste of Thailand before the SEA Games as his next outing will be at the Thailand Open from June 22-25.

After that, he hopes to be competing at home at the Malaysian Open in August, but knows there is more to come from him this year.

“My journey in 2025 is still long, and there is more to come,” said Armin.

“I hope to be able to deliver a good result at the SEA Games this year. I want to achieve more for myself,” he added.