Lalu gets in Khairul’s path for Asiad glory

KUALA LUMPUR: National sprinter Khairul Hafiz Jantan is expected to face a strong challenge from 18-year-old Lalu Muhammad Zohri of Indonesia at the Asian Games in Jakarta.

Lalu Muhammad served up the biggest surprise at the Under-20 World Junior Athletics Championships in Tampere, Finland, last week by clocking a personal best of 10.18 to win the boys’ 100m gold.

In the pre-Asian Games competition in Jakarta in February, Lalu Muhammad clocked 10.25 to win the blue riband event.

But Khairul, the fastest man in SouthEast Asia, is struggling to clock decent times this year.

The Melaka athlete hasn’t come close to his national record of 10.18, set at the Sarawak Sukma in July 2016.

Khairul, who is in Mannheim, Germany, for training-cum-competitions since last month, only managed 10.45 in the heats at the Mannheim Athletics Championships on Friday.

In the final, he clocked 10.39 to finish fourth.

Khairul’s season best is 10.34, which he did at the Federal Territory All Comers in Bukit Jalil in March.

He needs to equal his national record if he hopes to compete under Category A in next month’s Asian Games.

Khairul’s coach Mohd Poad Mohd Kassim said Lalu Muhammad would pose a threat not only to Khairul but also the other top sprinters.

“Lalu Muhammad has made steady progress in competitions while Khairul is struggling to come close to his personal best,” said Mohd Poad.

“The Indonesian is the sprinter to watch in next year’s SEA Games in the Philippines.

“And it’s going to be a challenge for Khairul to qualify for the 100m final in the Asian Games as some of the sprinters from Japan, China and Qatar have clocked good times in competitions this year,” said Mohd Poad.