Three boys qualify for worlds to make it a proud day for Poad

KUALA LUMPUR: Asian junior bronze medallist Muhd Zulfiqar Ismail has qualified for the World Junior Athletics Championships in Tampere, Finland, from July 10-15 with two other Malaysians.

Zulfiqar surpassed the qualifying mark of 10.55 after clocking 10.46 in the boys’ 100m final en route to winning a bronze in the Asian Junior Championships in Gifu, Japan last week.

Sprinter Abdul Wafiy Roslan and 400m runner Muhd Saiful Safwan Saifuddin qualified on merit by beating the qualifying mark in their respective events at last month’s Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil.

Wafiy won the 200m silver with a personal best of 21.24 – better than the qualifying mark of 21.35 while Saiful posted 47.01 to improve on the mark of 47.70.

Zulfiqar, who returned home to celebrate Hari Raya, was delighted with his performance in Japan.

“It was a memorable Asian junior debut. It’s my best achievement. I’ve secured a place in the World Junior too,” said the Terengganu lad.

National coach Mohd Poad Mohd Kasim said he was pleased that the three athletes had qualified for the Under-20 world junior meet.

The three are doing their pre-university studies at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) where Mohd Poad is the coach.

“I expect Zulfiqar to further improve his personal best in Finland. Wafiy and Saiful also have the calibre to go far. I’m so happy that that they have improved,” said Mohd Poad.