KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s athletics stars, Muhammad Azeem Fahmi and Shereen Samsons Vallabouy, are expected to set the track on fire next week when they compete in the Malaysia Open Athletics Championships at Kuantan’s Darul Makmur Stadium from June 14 to 16.
Speaking to Scoop, Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) technical director Robert Ballard confirmed the duo’s participation, highlighting their mission to secure victory and bolster their chances for Paris Olympics qualification.
Azeem, who holds the national record in the men’s 100m, and Shereen, a standout in the women’s 400m, aim to shine at the championships, enhancing their standings for Olympic qualification.
Following her remarkable performance at the Music City Track Carnival in Tennessee, the United States, where she broke her own national record with a time of 51.79sec, Shereen’s ranking is expected to rise from 77th to 66th.
However, she needs to break into the top 48 in the Olympics qualification rankings to secure her debut at the prestigious event.
Meanwhile, Azeem currently sits 60th in the qualification rankings, aiming to break into the top 56 before the June 30 deadline.
“MAF has contacted them, and so far they are confirmed to compete in the Malaysia Open next week.
“We are doing our best to help them qualify for the Olympic Games. For example, if they win in the national championships, in category B, they will earn bonus points that will greatly help their ranking position.
“We would love to see that happen (breaking the national record); it would be amazing if they can do it on home soil. But it depends on many circumstances: good weather, their condition, and so on.
“I hope they will be able to recover soon upon their arrival in the homeland as they will be facing a long flight from the United States,” said Ballard.
Despite the time constraints, Ballard believes that both athletes have a better chance of qualifying for Paris through the qualification rankings compared to qualifying through entry standard times.
Through the entry standard, Azeem needs to achieve a time of 10.00sec, while Shereen needs to further improve her time to 50.95sec.
Azeem will also compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Oregon with Auburn University on the weekend before returning to Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Shereen still has one more championship to continue improving her position after the conclusion of the Malaysia Open, which is the Kazakhstan Bronze Tour meet on June 22 and 23. – June 5, 2024