SERDANG: Selangor’s Sasha Alyssa Philip held her nerve in a tense battle to the very last throw to land the women’s discus gold at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium on Sunday (Aug 16).
The 17-year-old Sasha produced a personal best of 44.93m to edge out Perlis’ Farhana Izurein (44.29m) and Sarawak’s Pauline Ului (43.24m).
Her previous best was 41.46m, which she set at the Southeast Asia Under-18 Championships in Indonesia last year.
Sasha, who won bronze in her Sukma debut two editions ago, said the closely fought contest against two athletes who also won medals previously pushed her to dig deep.
"I knew that Farhana and Pauline would be tough opponents as all three of us were on the podium at the last Sukma. So I just focused on each of my own throws," said Sasha, a student at the British International School in Kuala Lumpur.
Sasha, who took up discus at age eight after trying various events, trains under Jeng Tzan – a Sukma record holder in the event with a throw of 46.66m.
And with one more Sukma appearance left before she ages out of the category, Sasha is eyeing Jeng Tzan's mark as her next big target.
"Hopefully, in the next Sukma I can break her record," she said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Federal Territory’s Kok Hui Ying won the women’s 10,000m walk gold in 55:55.06, ahead of Johor’s Charlene Yapp (56:20.42) and Melaka’s Tan Li Ren (56:36.09).
RESULTS
MEN
100m: 1. Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee (Joh) 10.27s, 2. Mohd Umaira Subri (Ked) 10.31s, 3. Dzul Danish Jamari (Ked) 10.37s.
Shot putt: 1. Earl Isaac Mitzler Fredolin (Sab) 15.11m, 2. Jorez Puang (Swk) 14.94m, 3. Hi Seng Yan (Swk) 13.94m.
110m hurdles: 1. Mohd Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif (Ter) 13.66s, 2. Mohd Hazriq Cik Mat Kilau (Joh) 13.83s, 3. Rizki A’Limi Mohd Zahizal (FT) 13.96s.
WOMEN
100m: 1. Izzatul Musfirah Kamal Azira (Ter) 11.72s, 2. Lim Mei Yin (Sel) 11.96s, 3. Alvinia Anne Jackly (Swk) 12.07s.
10,000m walk: 1. Kok Hui Ying (FT) 55:55.06, 2. Charlene Yapp (Joh) 56:20.42, 3. Tan Li Ren (Mel) 56:36.09.
Pole vault: 1. Samantha Mae Godfrey Binting (Sab) 3.45m, 2. Syafiqah Mohd Azrul Ikram (Sel) 3.40m, 3. Nor Shahreena Jamizan (Pah) 3.35m.
Discus throw: 1. Sasha Alyssa Philip (Sel) 44.93m, 2. Farhana Izurein (Per) 44.29m, 3. Pauline Ului (Swk) 43.24m.
100m hurdles: 1. Fatin Nashira Mohd Fadzil (Kel) 14.49s, 2. Farah Syakira Azizsafar (Prk) 14.42s, Syarifah Alisya Syed Zarfina (Sel) 14.55s.
Long jump: 1. Alia Batrisyia Nasaruddin (Kel) 5.88m, 2. Maritza Ferrer Neil Armstrong (Swk) 5.74m, 3. Joanna Sangster (Swk) 5.50m.
