MAAU to hold trials to shortlist two sprinters for Korat

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven sprinters have qualified for the Korat SEA Games in December. However, only the best two will be named for the 100m event after a two-day trial in November.

Noor Imran: Clocked 10.41 in the heats at the National Closed Championships in Kangar last week. It was the fastest time posted by a Malaysian this year.

The sprinters who have surpassed the qualifying mark of 10.52, which is the silver medal effort at the Manila SEA Games, are Mohd Noor Imran Hadi, Mohd Latif Nyat, Danial Azuan Amar Nand, Mohd Zabidi Ghazali, Zabidi Ahmad, Mohd Asyraf Afendi and Mohd Arif Naim.

Johor's Noor Imran clocked 10.41 in the heats at the National Closed Championships in Kangar last week. It was the fastest time posted by a Malaysian this year. He went on to win the gold after clocking a time of 10.62.

“This is the first time that so many sprinters have qualified on merit. However, only the best two after the trials in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 17-18 will be named for the Games,” said Karim Ibrahim, the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) coaching and development committee chairman, yesterday.

Karim added that the next four fastest sprinters would be registered for the 4x100m event.

The 4x100m team qualified for the Games by clocking 40.52 in the Taiwan Open in June to beat the qualifying mark of 40.55.

On the men’s 110m hurdles event, Karim said Mohd Faiz Mohamed, the Manila SEA Games silver medallist, would be given a chance to beat the qualifying mark in a meet in Thailand next month.

To date, Mohd Robani Hassan and Mohd Rayzam Shah have qualified on merit for the 110m hurdles.

“We are giving Faiz the chance because he is an experienced hurdler. He came very close to beating his own mark of 14.16 in the National Closed last week,” said Karim.

Karim added that they would not be holding a trial to select the two walkers for the Games.

To date, three walkers – Mohd Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman, Lo Choon Sieng and B. Thirukumaran – have beaten the men’s 20km walk qualifying mark.

“We will pick the final two based on the time clocked in local and international meets,” said Karim.

The others who have qualified for the Games on merit are 400m hurdler Noraseela Khalid; high jumpers Lee Hup Wei and Ahmad Najwan; pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu; triple jumper Ngew Sin Mei; hammer thrower Siti Shahida Abdullah; 1,500m runner M. Vadivellan and woman walker Yuan Yufang.