SERDANG: Airiel Iskandar turned individual disappointment into team triumph, helping Johor to a stunning new Malaysia Games (Sukma) record in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium on Monday (Aug 17).
A day after finishing fourth with a time of 10.43s in the 100m, Airiel joined Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee, Haziq Ilman Osman and Adam Harith Hairulaydel to smash the 10-year championship record by posting 39.46s under the scorching heat.
The mark eclipsed the 39.89s set by Melaka’s Khairul Hafiz Jantan, Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap, Asnawi Hashim and Azam Masri in 2016.
"I was disappointed on Sunday, but I wanted to prove to everyone what I’m capable of," said Airiel.
"I told the team that I prayed to redeem myself in the 4x100m, and I’m thrilled that we managed to set a new record together."
Danish, who won the 100m Sukma with a time 10.27s, was on cloud nine too.
"This wasn’t a miracle or just tactical planning – this is a blessing given to us by God. We trusted each other as a team," he said.
Sabah quartet – Mohd Azri Mohd Asli, Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam, Carlson Camilus and Airiel Amani Kahar – settled for silver in 39.88s, while hosts Selangor – Ahmad Sufi Faeisal, Danish Irfan Tamrin, Aryan Syahmi Aidil Hakim and Danish Asyraff Herwan – claimed bronze in 40.29s.
In the women’s 4x100m final, Sarawak pulled off a surprise gold when Danea Humairah Sharyman Sufry, Alvinia Aivie Jack, Ormilla Octavia Codday and Siti Nur Aalia Hamka came first with 46.89s.
"We didn’t expect Sarawak’s name to pop up on the screen because we thought Terengganu had won it. We feel extremely happy and proud to bring home the gold medal for Sarawak," said Ormilla.
"During centralised camp, we couldn’t train together because I was still in school while the rest of the team had to train without me.
"On top of that, the dusty conditions in Sarawak meant we couldn’t train as much as we wanted to," she said.
Terengganu's Izzatul Musfirah Kamal Azira, Nur Aina Syakira Rafizan, Ho Jun Lin and Nor Aliya Najihah Muda took silver in 46.94s while Nabilah Natasha Azisyan, Mis’Ezatul Shafieqa Sapawi, S. Varshini and Maizurah Safree of claimed bronze in 47.24s.
RESULTS
MEN
4x100m relay: 1. Johor (Airiel Iskandar, Danish Iftikhar Mohd Roslee, Haziq Ilman Osman and Adam Harith Hairulaydel) 39.46s, 2. Sabah (Mohd Azri Mohd Asli, Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam, Carlson Camilus and Airiel Amani Kahar) 39.88s, 3. Selangor (Ahmad Sufi Faeisal, Danish Irfan Tamrin, Aryan Syahmi Aidil Hakim and Danish Asyraff Herwan) 40.29s.
400m: 1. Sayyid Amin Roslan (Pen) 47.20s, 2. Mohd Daniel Haqiem (Sel) 47.61s, 3. Mohd Farhan Mohd Isrulnizam (Pen) 47.66s.
3,000m steeplechase: 1. Mohd Fahrin Aiman Yusmizan (Ter) 9:32.88, 2. Syhir Nawas Khan Zaraish Khan (Ked) 9:38.48, 3. Mohd Aiman Mohd Zaidi (Ked) 9:40.72.
Javelin: 1. Chai Kai Le (Joh) 64.44m, 2. Tan Chun Wei (Pen) 60.43m, 3. Mohd Noor Iman (Joh) 59.96m.
High jump: 1. Dzul Darwisy Khairul Aswari (Kel) 2.09m, 2. Mohd Nawawi Mohamad (Ked) 2.07m, 3. Mohd Naufal Zulkifli (Ked) 2.04m.
WOMEN
4x100m relay: 1. Sarawak (Danea Humairah Sharyman Sufry, Alvinia Aivie Jack, Ormilla Octavia Codday and Siti Nur Aalia Hamka) 46.89s, 2. Terengganu (Izzatul Musfirah Kamal Azira, Nur Aina Syakira Rafizan, Ho Jun Lin and Nor Aliya Najihah Muda) 46.94s, 3. Johor (Nabilah Natasha Azisyan, Mis’Ezatul Shafieqa Sapawi, S. Varshini and Maizurah Safree) 47.24s.
400m: 1. Nor Malisya Mohd Ishak (Joh) 55.93s, 2. Noor Aliya Najihah Muda (Ter) 56.76s, 3. Ormilla Octavia Cooday (Swk) 57.03s.
3,000m steeplechase: 1. Nur Denisha Shazliatie Abdullah (Sab) 12:29.300, 2. Lydia Engku (Sab) 12:36.980, 3. Syarafana Azli (FT) 12:47.500.
