PETALING JAYA: National 400m hurdler Mohd Fakhrul Afizul Nasir has been given the green light to compete in the SEA Games in Bangkok from Dec 9 to 20.
Malaysian Athletics (MA) confirmed that the national record holder secured his place on the team after passing a performance and fitness test conducted by the National Sports Institute (NSI) on Friday (Nov 28).
MA secretary-general Nurhayati Karim said the NSI assessment remained a critical component of the governing body’s commitment to athlete welfare, performance readiness, and sustainable long-term development.
"We are pleased that Fakhrul has fully met NSI’s fitness and readiness requirements. His inclusion reflects our priority to ensure athletes are healthy, competitive, and prepared for high-performance demands," she said.
"We look forward to seeing him represent Malaysia with pride."
Fakhrul was initially left out of the squad due to a selection technicality and concerns surrounding his recovery from a severe hamstring injury suffered during the World University Games in August.
For the SEA Games, MA had earlier named Mohd Aiman Najmi Mohd Anuar, who clocked 52.73s after finishing behind Fakhrul at the MA International Meet on May 4.
Fakhrul, 21, had qualified under Category A with a time of 51.97s at the same meet.
However, his omission followed a slower 53.12s at the Varsity Track and Field Grand Final on Nov 13, which fell short of the coaches’ sub-52s benchmark.
Said Nurhayati: “The ISN clearance confirms he is physically ready to compete at the highest level. We welcome him back into the SEA Games squad and will continue supporting his preparation in the coming weeks," she said.
