Rayzam vows to give 120 percent to claim SEA Games gold

KUALA LUMPUR: Men's 110 metres hurdles national record holder, Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian has vowed to give 120 percent to bag the gold medal at the upcoming Kuala Lumpur SEA Games after claiming silver at the 2017 Anhalt Athletics Championships in Germany.

The 29-year-old clocked 13.84 seconds for the silver in the B Final, coming behind Kuwait's AlYoha Yacoub, who clocked 13.59s for gold, while the hosts' Freimuth Rico took bronze with 14.14s.

"It was difficult because of the cold and windy weather and nonstop rain the past week. The rain only stopped yesterday before we competed. I was running against a very cold wind but I am happy to have been able to do below 14s.

"What is important now is the SEA Games...I will give 120 per cent to wrest the gold medal," "said the 2007 Korat SEA Games gold medallist.

At the Singapore SEA Games two years ago, he had to settle for silver medal after crossing the finishing line in 13.97s, behind Thailand's Jamras Rittide, who bagged the gold and a Games Record of 13.69s.

However, his determination to secure the gold was proven three weeks ago, when the Sabahan erased the national record of 13.73s set by former international Nur Herman Majid at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan by clocking 13.67s at the Kurpfalz Gala competition in Germany.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim said that he was confident that Rayzam is in the best shape to win the elusive gold for the country.

"He is a matured athlete who can do training alone in Lipzieg, Germany for two months... Leaving his family and train to fight for the nation. - Bernama