Azeem offered three options to fulfil his potential

PUTRAJAYA: The Youth and Sports Ministry has offered teenage sprint sensation Muhd Azeem Mohd Fahmi (pic) three avenues to help him fulfil his potential to become a world-class athlete – and it’s up to him to decide what he wants.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the 15-year-old, touted as the “Usain Bolt of Malaysia”, can opt to train abroad; be based at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Kuala Lumpur; or carry on training in his home state Perak.

Syed Saddiq and NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail had already met Azeem and his family last week to discuss the options.

“Azeem and his family are currently considering what we have offered. We would be getting their feedback by next week,” said Syed Saddiq after launching the Le Tour de Femina here yesterday.

“It would be good for him to train overseas or move to NSC where he will receive the best Sports Science support. But even if he decides to continue to study and train in Perak, we are fine with that.

“The ministry would still support Azeem and his coach in whatever way we can.”

Azeem made the headlines when he sensationally smashed his own meet records in the boys’ Under-15 100m and 200m races at the National Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Athletics Championships in Johor Baru last week.

Azeem won the 100m gold in an impressive time of 10.63, erasing his previous record of 10.72 while in the 200m he posted 21.24 to dip under his winning time of 21.89 last year.

It was his feat in the 200m that was particularly impressive. It ranked him eighth fastest in the world in the Under-18 category for this year.

By accomplishing the feat at 15, he’s now considered the fastest among the Under-16 runners although there’s no official ranking for that age group.

As for the 100m, he currently sits joint 18th overall and second fastest behind South Africa’s Bouwaghi Nkrumie for runners aged 16 and below.

Syed Saddiq has also paid tribute to Azeem’s coach, Muhd Amir Izwan, and said the latter would continue to be part of the sprinter’s future plans.

“The coach is undoubtedly the unsung hero. I was told that he travels two-and-a-half hours just to get to training daily. He’s such a committed man,” said Syed Saddiq.

“He’s done a great job to get Azeem to this level at such a young age and that’s no easy feat.”