MAF chief hits out at report on 200m record validity
KUALA LUMPU R: The Malaysian Athletics Federation’s ( MAF) president Datuk Karim Ibrahim on Wednesday rapped an English daily for a report disputing the validity of the new 2 0 0m nat iona l record made by national sprint king Khairul Haf iz Jantan at the 94th Malaysia Open Athletics Championship at Bukit Jali l National Stadium, which ended Tuesday.
Karim said MA F was disappointed by the report belittling the venue that was recognised by the International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF). He stressed that the report seemed to be denying Khairul Hafiz’s success in breaking Tan Sri Dr M Jegathesan’s 49-year- old 200m national record of 20.92s made during the 1968 Moscow Olympic Games.
“I have instructed the MAF Technical Commit tee twice to conduct inspection at the venue and everything is in compliance with the IAAF guidelines,” he told Bernama at Youth and Sport Ministry’s Aidilfitri open house, here on Wednesday.
Furthermore, Karim said the 20.90s clocked by Khairul Hafiz was valid since all athletics equipment installed at the Bukit Jal i l Nat ional Stadium were recognised IAAF.
“It should not be doubted. I have all documentation to prove it,” he said.
In the newspaper report , Karim was misquoted as saying the record of 20.90s created by Khairul Haf iz should be confirmed by MAF since the Bukit Jalil National Stadium was said to has yet to receive recognition from the IAAF. — Bernama