SEPANG – National sprint sensation Muhammad Azeem Fahmi sees himself as the toughest competition for this weekend’s Malaysia Open Athletics Championship for a spot at the Paris Olympics in July.
Despite numerous successes with the Auburn University 4x100m quartet, including their recent gold medal win at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships in Oregon with a time of 38.03, individual achievements have been scarce for Azeem this season.
While he once clocked a personal best of 10.24 seconds in the 100m event at the LSU Invitational Championships in Los Angeles last April, the time was not recognised.
His best time this season stands at 10.36 seconds, achieved during the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Florida in May.
Yet, it is still far from the Olympic qualifying standard time of 10.00 seconds.
Additionally, he is aware that many are eyeing to outperform him in this weekend’s event in Kuantan.
However, Azeem said that he is unfazed by all challengers because his focus now is on achieving his personal best to brighten his chances for Paris.
“It’s undeniable that Malaysia has many talented sprinters, some from Sabah, and not to forget senior athletes like Haiqal Hanafi, Jonathan Wong, and others.
“For me, they will pose a challenge, but for myself, whoever competes this weekend doesn’t mean anything to me.
“Because right now, I am only competing with myself. If I can beat my mental barriers and stay focused, I can dominate the race and become the champion,” said Azeem upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport this morning.
For Azeem, he admits that he is still struggling to find his best running rhythm as the Olympic qualification deadline approaches, which is on June 30.
Although he has been promised a wild card slot by the Malaysia Athletics Federation if he fails to qualify on merit, the Perak-born runner remains determined to strive for success on his home soil.
“My big mission is to qualify for the Olympics, but the biggest one for me, as everyone knows, is that I have yet to find my true running rhythm.
“So, my biggest mission is to find small victories and have fun. I want to feel the enjoyment of running and racing again, to compete with everyone, even back home with friends.
“I believe that if I can have fun and relax without putting any pressure on myself, I can achieve good timing.
“So for this weekend, it may seem difficult, but for me, nothing is impossible,” he added. – June 12, 2024