Latest news with #Shereen
New Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shereen fades in final 100m of 400m heat at Asian meet
KUALA LUMPUR: High hopes were pinned on Shereen Samson Vallabouy to deliver in her first Asian Championship appearance, but she fell flat in Gumi, South Korea, on Tuesday. The 26-year-old ran a poor 400m race, clocking a sluggish 54.80s to finish a disappointing fifth in Heat One, failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Her time was well off her national record of 51.79 set in the United States last year. Shereen had clinched bronze in the event at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and was expected to at least reach the final this time. Based on her personal best and intense training in Florida under coach Derrick White, she should have easily won her heat and progressed to the next round. She clocked a season's best 53.66 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Florida on April 19 and 53.72 earlier at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic on April 5. Shereen, who will compete as a wild card in the World Championships on Sept 13-21, was tipped to medal in Gumi but looked visibly tense in the final 100m stretch. "I'm disappointed with my race today. It just wasn't my day. My body couldn't execute a good run," said Shereen. "I need to figure out what went wrong. I'm not making excuses. I hope to bounce back in the upcoming competitions," added the US-based athlete, who returns to Florida on Thursday. Malaysia Athletics (MA) technical director John Ballard admitted the performance was well below expectations. "I'm surprised by Shereen's run. She trained well and looked sharp in Bangi last week, but in the race, she seemed strained in the final 100m. "I believe her tactics were off. She needs to keep training and focus on the competitions ahead," said Ballard. Malaysia's only realistic medal hope now lies with Irfan Shamsuddin in the men's discus. Meanwhile, Umar Osman advanced to the men's 400m semi-finals with a time of 46.71 in the heats, while Farrell Glenn Felix Jurus made it into the men's high jump final after clearing 2.05m. In the women's hammer, Sea Games gold medalist Grace Wong finished 10th with a throw of 59.15, while compatriot Nurul Hidayah Lukman placed last in the 12-athlete field with 46.00.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shereen eyes Asian podium in Gumi
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's track queen Shereen Samson Vallabouy is eyeing a podium finish in her debut at the Asian Athletics Championships which begin tomorrow at the Gumi Civic Stadium in South Korea. Shereen has not turned out for Malaysia since winning the 400m bronze in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games by posting 52.58. She also anchored the women's 4x100m quartet to win bronze in Hangzhou. Shereen, 26, who is training under American Derrick White in Florida, said: "I am always excited to represent Malaysia. I am hoping for a podium finish. "The full list of runners is not out yet but I believe the challenge will be from the Indian athletes. "I have worked very hard in training and even lost three kilogrammes. I really want to improve my timing as I have not clocked new personal best in competitions this year yet. "There is a lot of work to do but I am confident that I will do well at the end of the year," said Shereen, who will run in the 400m heats tomorrow morning. Shereen, who will participate in the World Championships in Tokyo in September as a wild card, holds the national record of 51.79 set last year in the US. Shereen said her main goal in the Asian Championships is to qualify on merit for the world meet and to achieve that, she needs to clock 50.75 in competitions by the end of August. Malaysia Athletics (MA) is also banking on Irfan Shamsuddin to win his third medal in the men's discus event at the Asian meet. Irfan, who will be competing in his fifth Asian Championships, won silver in Bhubaneswar, India, in 2017, and bronze in Bangkok in 2023. Irfan, 29, who did a season best of 60 metres at the Queensland Open in Melbourne in March, said that he is in good shape and hoping for an explosive throw in Gumi. MA president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he is hoping that the athletes will return with at least a medal from the Asian Championships. In the last Asian meet, in Bangkok in 2023, Malaysia won a bronze through Irfan Shamsuddin with a throw of 59.63m. Malaysia's 29 athletes for the Asian championships: Men: Jonathan Nyepa (100m, 4x100m), Khairul Hafiz Jantan (100m, 4x100m), Sayyid Amin Roslan (200m, 4x100m), Russel Alexander Nasir Taib (200m, 4x100m), Danish Iftikhar Roslee (4x100m), Pengiran Aidil Auf Hajam (4x100m), Umar Oman (400m, 4x400m), Luqmanul Hakim Khairul Akmal (400m, 4x400m), Fakrul Afizul Nasir (400m hurdles, 4x400m), Wan Fazri Wan Zahari (800m, 4x400m), Anas Ariffin (1500m), Rizzua Haizad (110m hurdles), Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif (110m hurdles), Khor Jing Hong (20km walk), Irfan Shamsuddin (discus), Jonah Chang (shot putt), Naufal Shahrul Afzam (pole vault), Farrell Glenn Felix Jurus (high jump). Women: Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Nur Afrina Batrisyia Rizal (100m, 4x100), Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal Azria (200m, 4x100m), Azreen Nabila Alias (4x100m), Nur Aishah Rofina Aling (4x100m), Shereen Samson Vallabouy (400m), Nani Sahirah Maryata (shot put), Grace Wong Xiu Mei (hammer), Nurul Hidayah Lukman (hammer), Queenie Ting Kung Ni (discus), Ng Jing Xuan (javelin).
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shereen, Irfan take centre stage at Asian meet
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are banking on Shereen Samson Vallabouy and Irfan Shamsuddin to deliver medals at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on May 27-31. Malaysia Athletics (MA) technical director John Ballard said Shereen and Irfan are currently ranked among the top three in the women's 400m and men's discus events, respectively. The 26-year-old Shereen clocked a season-best 53.66s at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida last month and holds the national record of 51.79. She is expected to battle for gold with Bahrain's Kemi Adekoya, the reigning Asian Games champion, and compatriot Salwa Eid Naser. Shereen bagged bronze in the Hangzhou Games in 2023. Irfan, 29, threw a season-best 60.00m to claim silver at the Queensland Open in March. He will face stiff competition from Qatar's Moaaz Mohamed Ibrahim and China's Abuduaini Tuergong in Gumi. "Irfan is in good form and should be on the podium in Gumi," said Ballard. Hangzhou Asian Games 100m bronze medallist Azeem Fahmi will skip the Asian meet. Ballard confirmed Malaysia will field 36 athletes in Gumi. "Sprinter Russell Alexander Nasir Taib will contest the men's 200m alongside youngster Sayyid Amin Roslan. "Teenager Danish Iftikhar Roslee, who stunned the seniors to win the 100m title with a 10.57s at the Cahya Mata Super Series on Saturday, will feature in the 4x100m. "Jonathan Nyepa and Khairul Hafiz Jantan will race in the men's 100m." Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli will double up in the women's 100m and 200m, joined by youngsters Nur Aishah Rofina Zulkifli (100m) and Izzatul Musfirah Ahmad Kamal Azira (200m). At last year's Asian Championships in Bangkok, Malaysia managed just one bronze through Irfan.
New Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Shereen finishes 26th in Jacksonville
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Shereen Samson Vallabouy ended up 26th out of 71 runners in the women's 100m heats at the East Coast Relays Track and Field Invitational in Jacksonville, United States on Saturday. The 26-year-old clocked 11.82 seconds, which was slower than her season best of 11.72s clocked at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic in Daytona Beach in March. Shereen is preparing for the Asian Championships in Gumi, South Korea from May 27-31. Malaysia Athletics technical director John Ballard said that Shereen's coach Derrick White was pleased with her performance. "Shereen ran a good tactical race leading to the Asian Championships. But for the Asian meet, she will compete only in the 400m." Ballard said Shereen won't run in the 4x100m in Gumi, and will return to Florida on May 29 to continue training for the World Championships in Tokyo in September. The national 400m record holder (51.79s), will compete as a wild card in the world meet. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Shereen won two bronze medals — in the 400m and 4x100m.
