SEPANG – National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Fahmi is shouldering multiple responsibilities as he prepares for the Malaysia Open Athletics Championships this weekend.
However, beyond his primary mission of qualifying for the Paris Olympics, Azeem is in dire need of a victory to regain the confidence he has struggled with throughout this season.
Like many other top athletes, Azeem grapples with mental health issues, particularly since his solitary journey to the United States last year.
The Perak-born athlete admits that his performance this season pales in comparison to the previous year, especially under the immense pressure to qualify for the Olympics. However, the support from those around him has gradually alleviated some of that pressure.
Furthermore, his motivation soared when he helped his university team, Auburn University, clinch victory in the 4x100m at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships in Oregon last Sunday, clocking a time of 38.03sec.
Interestingly, this time ranks as the world’s fourth fastest for this season.
Nevertheless, his coach, Ken Harnden, advises Azeem not to dwell too much on his times at the Malaysia Open.
Instead, he encourages Azeem to rediscover the joy of running, reminiscent of when he first made a name for himself in the sport.
“Harnden only asked me to have fun this weekend because he knows all I need is one race to win. Once I achieve that victory, my confidence will return.
“Throughout this period, I’ve been dealing with various things, many of which people don’t know about, especially mental health issues during my time in the US.
“I don’t want to make all this an issue and an excuse because, despite the many distractions off the track, for me, this is all part of the growing process.
“I’m only 20-years-old, still just a kid in many people’s eyes. So, as long as I can secure one victory, it will boost my confidence to the next level, empowering me to perform even better,” said Azeem.
While the 4x100m relay time may not fully represent a sprinter’s capability in the 100m, Azeem remains confident in delivering his best performance leading up to the Malaysia Open this weekend.
Azeem has two opportunities to qualify for the Olympics, either through the Olympic qualification ranking or by surpassing the qualifying standard time of 10.00sec.
The Malaysia Athletics Federation has also assured Azeem of a safety net for Paris, announcing that he will receive a wild card slot if he fails to qualify on merit.
“To be honest, if people watched our race (NCAA Championship final), we clocked a time of 38.03sec, which actually was the fastest time this year. If we consistently run 38.03sec, each athlete needs to run below 10.01sec. So, I believe we ran well, including myself.
“I feel I need to carry the momentum from last week to this week. I need to give my best, but I don’t want to be overly confident and just want to do my best,” he added. – June 12, 2024