KHAIRUL ADMITS HE’S GOT AN ACHILLES HEEL

Khairul needs to be quicker off the starting blocks

PETALING JAYA: Teenage sprinter Khairul Hafiz Jantan ( pic) knows that he needs to take off from the starting blocks like a rocket to clock a faster time at the Commonwealth Games.

And the 19-year-old is ready to work on that as he enters the final stretch of his preparations for the Games in Gold Coast from April 4-15.

Khairul marked his return to the athletics scene in blistering fashion when he posted 10.34s to win the 100m gold at the Federal Te r r i t o r y All-Comers Championships in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

It was his first 100m race since winning the blue riband event at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last August. He was sidelined for seven months due to a hamstring injury.

Khairul, who holds the national record of 10.18, admitted he needed to be quicker off the starting blocks.

He could have clocked a faster time in Bukit Jalil if it was not for his slow start.

“I was quite shocked to be this fast because it was just a warm-up race. I’m just coming off from an injury,” said Hafiz.

“I could have set a better time if my start was better.

“But I’m still happy with my time. This is a faster time compared to my gold-medal run in the SEA Games (10.38). But there’s still room for improvement.

“Overall, it’s a good sign for me ahead of the Commonwealth Games and it’s definitely a confidence booster. I’ll work harder on getting my start right in training before my next tournament.”

Hafiz will compete in the Perak Open All-Comers meet in Lumut on March 24-25, which will be his final warm-up tournament before flying off to Gold Coast on April 3.

“I’ll compete only in the 4x100m in Ipoh but that’ll still be good enough to gauge my progress,” said Hafiz.

“The competition at the Commonwealth Games is tough, I don’t want to think about winning medals yet.

“I just want to focus on my run and see how far I can go, and I do hope to break my national record in Australia.”