German stint for Rayzam and Hup Wei

KUALA LUMPUR: Hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian and high jumper Lee Hup Wei will leave for Leipzig, Germany, next month for a six-week training stint in preparation for two events — the Asian Track and Field (ATF) Championships in Chennai from July 3-7 and the Myanmar SEA Games from Dec 11-22.

National Sports Council (NSC) sports manager for athletics Datuk M. Magendran said that the duo were selected for the stint because they had the potential to win medals in the ATF meet and also gold medals in the biennial Games.

“They are the best in their events in the South-East Asian region. And they have the capability to improve on their personal bests,” said Magendran.

Rayzam won the gold in the 110m hurdles at the 2009 Laos SEA Games but at the last Games in Jakarta two years ago, the Sabahan could only manage a silver.

Hup Wei has been the gold medallist in the last three Games since Korat in 2007 and is also a former Asian champion, bagging gold in the 2007 ATF meet in Amman, Jordan.

Magendran said Rayzam will be under the charge of German hurdles coach Idriss Gonschinska while Hup Wei will train under another coach to be decided by the German association by the end of this month.