Hazim bent on making his mark
roller-skater Mohamad Hazim Shahrum is optimistic of making a strong debut at the Asian Games when he competes in the men’s 20km road race today.
The 18-year-old is confident that he is in good shape to perform well at the Jakabaring Sports City (JSC) Roller Skate Circuit here, backed up by three years of being active in inline skating and six years of skating on ice.
“After the World Championships in March, I immediately switched to inline, so I am more than ready to compete. I have been racing for three years in inline, realistically I am not sure where I am, but I am mentally strong, so let’s see how it goes tom o r row (today).
“Competing on o u r N ational Day definitely brings some added pressure, but I competed in the Sea Games last year, a day before Merdeka Day. I was able to perform then, so I am hoping to perform this time round as well,” he told Bernama when met during training yesterday.
Mohamad Hazim, a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) student at the Highvale Secondary College in Melbourne, Australia, bagged a gold medal in the men’s 3km relay and a bronze in the 1km individual event at the Sea Games last August.
Two gold medals in the men’s and women’s 20km road race are up for grabs today when roller sports returns to the Asian Games after the 2010 Guangzhou edition.