Yes, Yu can soar to new heights

KUALA LUMPUR:

Pole vaulter Chuah Yu Tian (pic) is all set to soar to new heights.

The Taiping-born athlete, who will be making her debut in the Aug 19-30 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, is in upbeat mood after recording a personal best of 3.70m to win the gold in the Malaysian

Open at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil last month.

She did well to finish ahead of favourite and 2015 Singapore SEA Games silver medallist Rachel Isabel Yang Bingjie, who cleared 3.60m to bag the silver. The Singaporean has a personal best of 3.90m, which she did in the Singapore Games.

The 24-year-old Yu Tian said she managed to improve her personal best after changing to a longer pole two months ago.

“I was not making much progress with the shorter pole.

“Then, my coach Teh (Weng Chang) advised me to switch to a longer pole.

“Winning the gold in the Malaysian Open has boosted my confidence.

“Now, I hope to finish on the podium at the Games,” said Yu Tian, whose previous best was 3.60m.

“The Games is an important assignment for me. I need to win a medal to continue representing Malaysia.

“My aim is to improve on my personal best. Now, I also have head coach of jumps Mohd Mansahar (Abdul Jalil) to help me improve my techniques and boost my confidence,” said Yu Tian.

Mansahar was the coach of Roslinda Samsu, who won the gold at the 2009 Laos Games with a height of 4.15m.

The other Malaysian pole vaulter competing in the KL Games is Puteri Nur Adilah Syed Rahman.