MANILA, 8 Dec 2019:
National sprinter Muhammad Haiqal Hanafi’s superb race to defend Malaysia’s SEA Games 100 metres gold brought much needed cheer to an otherwise mediocre showing by the national contingent on the eighth day of competition here today.
The Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School student, was in fact, a last minute call up for the games but surprised even the Malaysian camp with a perfect run to be crowned Southeast Asia’s Sprint King and defend the gold won by team mate Khairul Hafiz Jantan on home soil in 2017.
Besides Muhammad Haiqal, the national contingent only managed to secure another four gold today, one each through high-jumper Lee Hup Wei, Mohammad Rifdean Masdor (Muay Thai men’s 45 kg), P. Madhuri (karate-kumite women 55kg) and Grace Wong in the women’s skateboarding ‘downhill’ event.
Malaysian athletes also added 12 silver and 10 bronze today, but still found themselves stuck at sixth place of the overall medal standings with 41 gold, 42 silver and 62 bronze, and with just two days of competition left, the task of achieving the 70 gold medal target now seems like an uphill task.
Host nation the Philippines has been confirmed overall champions for the second time in the history of the games by amassing 112 emas, 86 perak dan 87 bronze, followed by Indonesia (65-62-79), while Vietnam remained third with 65 gold, 59 silver and 78 bronze.
Malaysia will continue their hunt for gold on the penultimate and ninth day of competition in several events, among them swimming, archery, athletics and mixed polo.
Meanwhile, Lee Hup Wei soared to his fourth SEA Games gold in men’s high jump today and it may well be his swan song at the regional games.
The Perak-born athlete, who made his SEA Games debut in the 2007 edition in Korat, Thailand, said he would now focus on qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“Maybe yes (my final SEA Games)…We will see after this,” he told reporters after winning the men’s high jump gold at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium here.
Hup Wei and teammate Nauraj Singh Randhawa both cleared 2.21m but the former was declared the winner on countback. Thailand’s Tawan Kaeodam took the bronze with a leap of 2.15m.
Hup Wei, who has a personal best of 2.27m, also won gold in 2007, 2009 (Laos) and 2011 (Indonesia).
Meanwhile, national paralympics ace Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli is satisfied with the silver he won in men’s shot put with a throw of 17.03m, which was one better than the bronze he collected at the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“I am satisfied with my successes this season, including winning the silver at the World Para Championship,” said the Selangor athlete.
– Bernama