No dash for Azeem and Russel in Thailand SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: Sprint stars Mohd Azeem Fahmi and Russel Alexander Nasir Taib (pic) will not be part of the Malaysia contingent heading to Thailand for the SEA Games next month.

National athletics head coach Manshahar Abd Jalil confirmed that the duo would skip the biennial Games from Dec 9-20 for different reasons.

“Azeem will not be joining. This was decided about four to five months ago due to his college commitments,” he said.

”As for Russel, he did not make the cut. He did not meet the criteria, which required finishing in the top three and recording a time below 21 seconds (21.21s). He has already been informed,” said Manshahar.

The full list will be announced next week.

“The process is still ongoing. We are currently in meetings to finalise everything. Ideally, everything should be settled by the end of the week,” said Manshahar.

He said training had been continuing as usual, with the national athletes maintaining their focus ahead of the Games.

“The athletes will be preparing for another month, and we believe we’re on the right track.

Though the list is not released yet, among the confirmed names are men sprinters Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee (100m and 200m), Pengiran Aidil Auf (200m), Irfan Shamsuddin (discus), Jonah Chang Rigan (shot putt); and women’s Shereen Samson Vallavuoy (400m).

At the previous SEA Games, the Malaysian athletics squad bagged five golds, three silvers, and 11 bronzes, finishing fourth overall in the medal standings.