Dad’s the wind beneath his wings as Fakhrul prepares for Youth Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR: Sprinter Muhammad Fakhrul Abdul Aziz is proud of his father for helping him achieve his dreams.

The Form Five student of Penang Free School owes his success to his dad Abdul Aziz Abdullah after qualifying for the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October in the boys’ 100m.

Fakhrul clocked 10.85 in the final to finish sixth in the Youth Olympic Qualifying in Bangkok last month.

All the eight finalists in the 100m will represent Asia in Youth Olympics.

The 17-year-old Fakhrul, who is the first athlete from athletics to qualify for the third edition of the Games, said that he would not have qualified if not for his father.

“I don’t have a coach and my dad, who is working as a clerk at the SMK Convent in Bukit Mertajam in Penang, has been helping me in training since I was in Form Three.

“I trained at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) track, which is near my house.

“With his guidance, I managed to make steady improvements in competitions. Last year in the National Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Athletic Championships in Penang, I did well to clock a personal best of 10.59 to win silver in the Under-18 100m,” said Fakhrul, who is the youngest among seven siblings.

“And at this year’s MSSM meet in Shah Alam, I did a season best of 10.62 to win the gold. I was selected to compete in the Youth Olympic Qualifying in Bangkok based on my efforts in the MSSM.

“I’m proud to be the first athlete from athletics to feature in the Youth Olympics Games.

“It is a dream come true for me. I must thank my dad for helping me in training and also making me a top sprinter at the MSSM meet,” said Fakhrul, whose mother Rusyati Osman is his number one fan.

“My dream is to be a national sprinter and I’m already on the right track to achieve it,” said Fakhrul, who will be competing in the Asean School Games in athletics at the National Sports Council (NSC) Training Track in Bukit Jalil from July 21-24.

Fakhrul said that his mission in the Asean School Games is to win the blue riband gold and also clock a personal best.

“It will be a big boost for me before the Youth Olympic Games if I can achieve it in the Asean School Games,” said Fakhrul.