Too fast: Thailand’s Soraoat Dapbang crosses the finish line to win the men’s 4 x 100m final. Left: Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee. — Reuters
BANGKOK: Malaysia’s young 4x100m quartet announced themselves as the nation’s hope for the future, winning the silver medal and shattering the national record at the Supachalasai Stadium.
Even with three new faces, Malaysia powered to second place in 38.03s, obliterating the previous national mark of 39.09s and finishing only behind hosts Thailand, who rode the brilliance of sprint king Puripol Boonson to gold in a Games-record 38.28s.
Indonesia claimed bronze in 39.51s.
More than the medal, it was the make-up of the team, Alif Iman Mohd Fahimi, Jonathan Nyepa, Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam and Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee, that was so exciting.
“I am grateful to be part of this young team,” said the 29-year-old Jonathan, the oldest runner.
“At the Malaysian Open, I already said this team are strong. We could see the record coming, and I’m glad it happened here in Bangkok.”
“In the call room, I told the boys not to make Thailand comfortable. We fight till the end. They are the favourites because of their sprinters, but pressure was what we wanted to give and we gave it.”
For 22-year-old Alif, running on the front straight in his debut SEA Games, the night was almost surreal.
“We were in the front lane, the others were at the back,” he said.
“I just made sure the baton passing was perfect.
“A medal in my first SEA Games, and with a record as well, what a moment.”
Danish, 18, could barely believe his own numbers. He has already won bronze in the 100m and 200m, also with a national record of 20.73s two days ago.
“Two records and I’m only 18. This is amazing,” he said.
With three debutants pushing Thailand all the way on home soil, Malaysia can have high hopes for the next Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, national middle-distance runner Wan Fazri Wan Mohd Zahari also continued his consistency at the Games level, claiming bronze in the men’s 800m in 1:49.85.
“I tried everything in the last 100m, but I didn’t have the pace or energy to match the front two,” said Fazri.
Two years ago in Phnom Penh, Fazri also took bronze, but in a much slower 1:53.86.
“Umar Osman set it up pretty well and gave me the space to go for the final kill,” he added.
RESULTS
MEN
800m: 1. Lorrana Hussein (Phi) 1:48.40, 2. Joshua Atkinson (Tha) 1:49.24, 3. Wan Fazri Wan Mohd Zahari 1:49.85.
Selected: 5. Umar Osman 1:50.19.
4x100m: 1. Thailand (Thawatchai Himalad, Chayut Kongprasit, Puripol Boonson and Soraoat Dapbang) 38.29s, 2. Malaysia (Alif Iman Mohd Fahimi, Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam, Jonathan Nyepa and Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee) 39.03s, 3. Indonesia (Wahyu Setiawan, Bayu Kertanegra, Fatah Jaelani and Lalu Mohd Zohri) 39.51s.
400m hurdles: 1. Calvin Quek (Sin) 50.27s, 2. Nguyen Duc Son (Vie) 50.80s, 3. Le Quoc Huy (Vie) 50.90s.
Selected: 5. Aiman Najmi Mohd Anuar 53.14s, 6. Mohd Fakhrul Afizul Nasir 53.92s.
Javelin throw: 1. Hafiz Abdullah (Ina) 72.82m, 2. Nidiken Silfanus (Ina) 71.99m, 3. Somwichai Wachirawit (Tha) 69.62m.
Selected: 4. Elrick Roslee 66.45m.
Long jump: 1. Andre Anura Anuar 7.71m, 2. Ubas Janry (Phi) 7.64m, 3. Pham Van Nghia (Vie) 7.49m.
Selected: 5. Tan Zhi Hang 7.38m
WOMEN
400m hurdles: 1. Quach Thi Lan (Vie) 56.62s, 2. Lauren Brown (Phi) 57.50s, 3. Alexis Hoffman (Vie) 57.75s.
Selected: 5. Mandy Goh Li 1:01.65.
