Fazri aims to go the distance in athletics career
Youngster Wan Mohd Fazri Wan Zahari does not only want to keep the family tradition going in athletics – but he aims to go one step better.
Fazri wants to surpass the achievement of his uncle Zainal Abidin Hashim, who bagged a gold in the 4x400m, silver in 800m and bronze in the 400m at the Asian Schools Games in Singapore in 1972.
The 18-year-old, who is now ranked third in 800m behind national champion Royson Vincent and Putra Azrul Syazwan Azman, is grateful to his uncle.
“I was 10 and inspired by my uncle and took up athletics. He did well in the Asian schools but could not pursue his career when he left for the United States to further his studies,” said Fazri.
“I told him that I will keep the family tradition going. He did well in the juniors, while I aim to do well in the senior tournaments.”
The Kota Baru-born is aiming to represent Malaysia at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2022.
“I’ve set a two-year target to compete in the Asiad. It’ll be tough but I am ready for the challenge,” said Fazri.
He needs to beat the qualifying mark of 1:49.05, which is the sixth placing mark of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, to make the trip to China.
He has been improving since posting a time of 1:53.80 in the 800m en route to winning a gold in the Asean Schools Games in Semarang, Indonesia last July.
He did better a month later in the Malaysian Closed but his personal best of 1:52.14 as a third-place finisher in Bukit Jalil was not good enough to get him a ticket for the Philippines SEA Games last December.
Disappointed but not demoralised, Fazri is aiming to make his SEA Games debut in Hanoi next year. For now, he is eyeing for glory in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Johor Baru next March.
“I hope to post 1:51.00 in Sukma,” said Fazri, who bagged bronze in the last edition in Ipoh in 2018.
Zainal, who is a retired professor, said his nephew has a bright future ahead of him.
“Fazri is more talented than me as a runner and has a potential. If he keeps believing in himself, I’m sure he will be one of the top 800m runners in Malaysia,” said Zainal.