SURABAYA, July 2 — The national athletics squad began its campaign at the Asean University Games 2024 today by garnering two gold medals at the Surabaya University’s Athletics Field today.
One of the gold medals was from long jumper Andre Anura Anuar, who cleared 7.46m to defeat Indonesia’s Arifianto Firmansyah (7.42m), while the bronze went to Xaidavanh Vongsavanh (7.23m) of Laos.
Commenting on today’s jump, he was happy to defend the gold medal in the event which was won by Luqman Hakim Ramlan in the 2022 edition.
“On the overall, the pace was quite different today. Fortunately, everything changed in the fourth jump and in the fifth, I did very well.
“I remembered what I discussed with the coach and everything fell in place,” Andre told the press.
Meanwhile, national discus thrower Queenie Ting Kung also claimed the gold medal after throwing a distance of 45.23m to get ahead of host athletes Wahyu Nur Aini (43.14m) and Maria Aviliationo (42.47m), who took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the men’s discus throw, Kamal Farhan A. Rahman claimed silver after heaving 45.66m to trail the Thai athlete Kiadpradid Srisai (49.46m). The bronze went to Ekkarin Boonlap (42.46m), also from Thailand.
National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi clinched a silver medal in the 100m dash with a time of 10.37 seconds (s) behind host runner Lalu Muhammad Zohri, who won the race in 10.19s.
The bronze medal went to Jaelani Fatah Sidek of Indonesia, with a time of 10.59s.
The women’s 400m hurdles event also contributed a silver and a bronze medal, respectively, through Mandy Goh Li in 1:01.90s and Frenynila Sherly Lucius (1:05.89s) behind home runner Nela Augustin (1:00.09s).
Ruslem Zikry Roseli won another bronze medal in the men’s 400m hurdles event, with a time of 56.33 seconds, behind home athletes Hamomoan Binsar (52.98 seconds) and Natthapho Dansungsoen (55.29 seconds), who won the gold and silver medals, respectively.
On the eighth day of the AUG 2024 Games, the Malaysian contingent once again focused on athletics, while combat sports, archery, and sepak takraw will start competition tomorrow.
Malaysia has won 17 gold medals, 22 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals so far, ranking third in the medal tally behind Indonesia and Thailand.
— Bernama
