PENANG: Reigning SEA Games men’s long jump champion Mohd Shahrul Amri is not perturbed despite only finishing third in the event at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships yesterday.
The Kedahan, who bagged the gold medal at last year’s national meet, could only manage a poor 7.21m jump at the City Stadium.
Filipino Joebert Delicano won the gold with a 7.54m effort while Josbert Tinus of the Armed Forces clinched the sliver despite having the same best jump as Shahrul.
Shahrul seemed more worried about his heel injury sustained at the Asian Track and Field Championships in South Korea earlier this year than not bagging the gold here.
“I have already clinched my berth for the Manila SEA Games ... so not setting a good mark here is not a real bother.
“What I am more worried about is that the injury to my heel bone acted up again just as I was about to take off during the first jump,” said the national jumper.
The 22-year-old added that the injury still persisted despite him having undergone treatment for the injury after returning from South Korea.
“I only have about two months to be fully fit for the SEA Games. I will take time off from serious training and concentrate on recovering. But I have been warned that bone injuries could take a long time to heal. I am hoping that I will be ready to defend my gold medal in Manila,” said the jumper.
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