Azeem's blistering 10.09s run an amazing feat - Coach

KUALA LUMPUR: Young sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi's sensational run at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia has elevated his status as the best current junior sprinter in Asia.

The 18-year-old Azeem shattered the old National record of 10.18s held by former SEA Games sprint champion Khairul Hafiz Jantan since the 2016 SUKMA in Kuching, Sarawak.

His coach Muhammad Amir Izwan Tan Abdullah said though he had expected his charge to set a new record, he did not expect such a pleasant surprise early.

Based on my calculation and analysis of Azeem's performance and progress, the sprinter who has a personal best time of 10.28s, was due to shatter the National mark at the SUKMA in September.

"I had no doubt about his capabilities and expected him to set a new National record with a time of around 10.12s or 10.15s. But this is really a bonus. Maybe he had chosen the right time and place to break the record. I am proud of his achievement and hope he can maintain his momentum into the coming races," he told Bernama when contacted in Cali, today.

Muhammad Amir believes Azeem can break the National record again when competing in the semifinals or final (if he qualifies), which will be held tomorrow morning local time.

"Based on the conditions and the stiff competition at the championships, it will not be impossible for Azeem to have another go at the National record. It can serve as a good platform for such an effort," he said.

Azeem who was racing in Heat 8 at the Pascual Guerrero Olympic Stadium this morning, was among 24 runners who qualified for the semifinals and his time of 10.09s was the second fastest in the blue ribbon event at the championships.

The only runner who surpassed his time was Botswana's 19-year-old Letsile Tebogo who clocked 10s to erase the championship record after winning Heat 3.

Vietnam SEA Games gold medallist in the 100m and 200m, Puripol Boonson from Thailand clocked 10.20s to move into the semifinal stage.

Based on Bernama's quick check of the current 100m records, Azeem's time is the fastest in Asia for 2022, surpassing the 10.16s held by Japan's Hiroki Yanagita, Boonson (10.19s) and Wang Shuang from China (10.23s).

Azeem's 10.09s was also better that the SEA Games record of 10.17s set by former Indonesian sprint ace Suryo Agung Wibowo at the Laos SEA Games in 2009.

-- BERNAMA