Muhammad Haikal Hanafi is keeping his fingers crossed for place in the menās Haikal Hanafi 4x100m following his silver winning performance at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil this week.
The 18-year-old Haikal clocked 10.55s in the menās 100m to finish second behind Hassan Saaid from Maldives with 10.49s. Malacca-born Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap and Sarawakian Nixson Kennedy were placed third and fourth, clocking 10.62s and 10.67s respectively.
āI should be able to join the 4x100m team for the KL SEA Games but I am uncertain about the individual 100m sprint. Either way, I will do my best to win,ā said Haikal, who hails from Negeri Sembilan.
āAlthough I did not win break my personal best of 10.48s attained at the SUKMA in Sarawak last year, I still feel grateful with my performance. Nonetheless, this result (10.55s) is my seasonās best.ā
For the moment, the menās 4x100m for KL2017will be anchored by Khairul Hafiz, Jonathan Nyepa, Badrul Hisyam and Nixson.
Muhammad Haikal and Muhammad Aqil Yasmin are on reserve.
Meanwhile, Siti Fatimah Mohamad won the gold medal for the womenās 100m event with 11.91s, beating Komalam Sally of Terengganu (11.97s) and Filipino Eloiza Luzon(11.99s).
āIt has been years since Iāve won a gold medal. Hopefully this will boost my chance for a place at the Ā SEA Games,ā said Siti Fatimah.- BY DESLYN YOON
