Hup Wei tops Nauraj again
jumper Lee Hup Wei yet again beat his arch rival Nauraj Singh Randhawa at the Kuala Lumpur Open yesterday.
Despite a winning 2.26m leap, Hup Wei said he is still not satisfied with his performance leading to the Asian Games.
Nauraj did 2.23m for silver while bronze went to Norshafiee Shah on 2.10m.
After what looked like an effortless 2.26m, Hup Wei looked lethargic as he missed all three attempts at 2.29m.
However, Hup Wei still managed to erase Loo Kum Zee’s meet record of 2.20m done in 2001.
“I need to rectify my technique as after 2.26m, my faults were mostly technical in nature. I will use the remaining time leading to the Asian Games with my coach (Alex Stewart) to try and solve this issue,” said Hup Wei.
The 31-year-old felt that his mistakes were in the last three steps before the jump.
Hup Wei’s effort yesterday would have earned him the bronze in the last Asian Games, as Qatar’s Muamer Aissa Barshim claimed it with 2.25m.
“I dare not talk about winning a medal just yet, because for me it’s more important to better my personal record of 2.28m. I have heard that Asian athletes have done 2.33m recently,” said Hup Wei who will be competing in his third Games.
This year alone, Hup Wei has beaten Nauraj at the AACT in Canberra in January as well as at the New South Wales Open in February.
Nauraj said: “This Open is a simulation leading to Jakarta and is more like a training session.” Jumiati Rosly