KUANTAN – National sprinting sensation Muhammad Azeem Fahmi not only needs to win the 100m at this weekend’s Malaysia Open but he must also crack 10.25sec for a chance of making the Paris Olympics.
While the mission to qualify through the Games’ entry standard time and become Malaysia’s first sub-10.00sec sprinter appears challenging in the near future, Azeem’s opportunity for Paris now lies in improving his world ranking.
Victory and a time below 10.25sec will earn him bonus points, potentially improving his current position of 64th in the Olympic standings.
According to World Athletics’ format, only the top 56 athletes from the world rankings will qualify for the Summer Games.
The blue-ribbon event is set to commence on Saturday, with Azeem possibly facing a demanding schedule of up to three runs in a single day.
The heats are scheduled to start in the morning, followed by the semi-finals in the afternoon, with the final set to take place in the evening.
“The current plan for Paris qualification is through two methods, world ranking or qualifying time.
“So, for me, the coach, and the entire National Sports Council (NSC) team, we’ve already anticipated my performance in the Malaysia Open this weekend, where I must secure a win in the 100m with a time of at least 10.25sec.
“I’m currently outside the top 56 in the rankings, but if I execute as planned this weekend, my position will rise to at least 45th, significantly brightening my prospects for the Olympics,” said Azeem.
However, Azeem has also prepared a contingency plan if this weekend’s mission does not go as planned, with the Kazakhstan Open next week serving as a backup.
“This week, I’ll compete in Kuantan, and next week, I’ll participate in the Kazakhstan Open before joining the Malaysian University contingent for the Asean University Games in Surabaya, Indonesia.
“Unfortunately, the qualification deadline for the Paris Olympics is on June 30, so the Asean University Games will hold no significance in this regard. I will only aim to compete there to improve my running rhythm and performance.
“We don’t want to become too complacent even if we succeed in the Malaysia Open. MAF (the Malaysia Athletics Federation) and NSC believe it’s advantageous for me to compete in Kazakhstan to accumulate additional points.
“If I can improve my performance in Kazakhstan, my world ranking will improve, thereby securing my qualification to Paris,” he added. – June 14, 2024