04-05-2025
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.
