Rayzam confident he can end Thai Jamras’ reign

KUALA LUMPUR: Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian is confident he can end Thai Jamras Rittidet’s reign in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Jamras has won the gold in the last four Games – Laos 2009, Palembang 2011, Myanmar 2013 and Singapore 2015.

The Thai also holds the Games record of 13.69 seconds, which he set in Singapore.

Sabahan Rayzam, who made a memorable outing by winning the gold at the 2007 Korat Games, is in high spirits as he is ranked No. 1 in South-East Asia after clocking 13.67 in the B final of the Kurpfalz Gala Athletics Championships in Germany in May.

Rayzam’s time erased the 23-yearold national record of 13.73 set by Nur Herman Majid on his way to the bronze at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

That has made the 29-year-old Rayzam, who had a two-month stint in South Africa in February and six weeks in Europe in May, ready to face his good friend and No. 1 rival Jamras.

“I was second in the last three editions but I’m confident I can beat Jamras to the gold this time as I have been consistently clocking 13.80 in competitions this year,” said Rayzam.

“Jamras is not in his best form after taking a break from athletics last year. He only made a comeback this year.

“He featured in the Vietnam Open (in Ho Chi Minh City last month) and won gold with a slow time of 14.06. I don’t think he will be able to put up a strong challenge in the KL Games.

“I am in good form – mentally and physically. I’m ready to give my best to win my second gold in the Games.

“I want to win the gold so that I will get to feature in next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta,” said Rayzam.