NAGOYA: National discus thrower Irfan Shamsuddin has apologised to Malaysians after failing to reach the top eight at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Thursday.
The 31-year-old recorded a throw of 56.37m to finish ninth, falling short of expectations to deliver a medal for the national contingent despite a smooth preparation phase.
China's Abuduaini Tuergong won the gold medal with a throw of 64.26m, while his compatriot Wu Nanjun took silver (61.58m). Iran's Sadegh Samimishalamzari settled for bronze (60.32m).
He expressed his disappointment, noting that his technique and body positioning felt optimal during the competition.
"I tried my best, and during the competition, everything felt okay. I don't know why the throw did not go as expected when I executed it.
"I don't want to make this an excuse for myself; I tried and I fought hard. I apologise to all Malaysians,” he said after the event.
Making his fourth Asian Games appearance since the 2014 Incheon edition, Irfan said he would evaluate his performance here before shifting his focus to next year's SEA Games and the Asian Championships.
"In sports, nothing is certain. We try our best, but during the competition, it may not work out.
"This is the process and journey of an athlete. There are ups and downs.
"I know Malaysians and sports fans were hoping for a first medal from me, so I need to reset and start again,” he said, stressing that the setback would not cause him to give up on his career. - Bernama
Commenting on his age, Irfan said physical strength was not an issue as he felt stronger and fitter than before, though he conceded that his recovery process now takes longer. - Bernama
