Youth and Sports Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin is looking forward to the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, after witnessing youth sprinter, Khairul Hafiz Jantan’s record-breaking gold medal win in 100m at the 2016 SUKMA.
According to Khairy on his personal Twitter account, Khairul Hafiz clocked in at 10.18 seconds to break Watson Nyambek’s 18-year-old record of 10.30 seconds, and the achievement was even more astounding considering it’s only a fraction away to the SEA Games’ record of 10.17 seconds.
“Khairul Hafiz created a new national record in 100m at SUKMA with the time of 10.18s. The SEA Games’ record is 10.17s. The winner of the 2015 SEA Games clocked in at 10.25s. We stand a chance at @KL2017!” he said via Twitter.
The SEA Games’ 100m record is held by Indonesia’s Suryo Agung Wibowo, who clocked it at the 2005 edition in Manila, while Eric Shauwn Cray of the Philippines is the defending champion from the Singapore SEA Games.
Malaysia has not won the event since Nazmizan Muhammad clinched the gold at Vietnam 2003, but Khairul Hafiz’s breakthrough will give local athletic fans a glimmer of hope to end the dominance of Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines when the race begins at the Bukit Jalil Stadium, next year.
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