Young Rehvan shames seniors with year’s best 100m time

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak’s Rehvan Arumugam is on track to become Malaysia’s speed king after recording the year’s best time of 10.57 in the 100m at the Sukan Perak last week.

But the talented sprinter, who is only 18, will have to put his ambition on hold for the time being. The Upper Six student of Anderson Secondary School is down for the South-East Asian (SEA) Junior Championships starting in Singapore today. After that, it is back to studying for his SPTM exams.

And that means giving the December Korat SEA Games a miss even if he beats the qualifying mark of 10.52.

After all, his time last week is the closest to the qualifying mark. National sprinters like 2003 Vietnam SEA Games double gold medallist Nazmizan Mohamed, Latif Nyat, Mohd Zabidi Ghazali and Mohd Sharafie Shauli have not dipped below 10.60 in the 100m.

Rehvan said that he was delighted to have clocked a time faster than the national sprinters this year.

“I managed to post the good time because of the guidance under coach Sankaran (Kutty) in Ipoh. He has helped me improve my endurance and also the slow start from the blocks.

“I am really happy to improve my personal best of 10.77 which I registered in the boys’ Under-18 category at the MSSM (Malaysian Schools Sports Council) Championships last month,” said Rehvan.

“My next mission now is to beat the SEA Games qualifying mark of 10.52. But even if I beat the mark for the Games, I will not be able to compete because of my STPM examinations in November and December.

“My parents want me to concentrate on my exams as for them education comes first. Besides that I also want to obtain a place in the university to do my automotive engineering degree,” said Rehvan.

At the SEA Junior Championships, Rehvan will compete in the 200m and 4×100m as there is no 100m event for the boys.

Thirty-four athletes comprising 18 boys and 16 girls will represent Malaysia in the two-day meet in Singapore.

THE SQUAD Men: Rehvan Arumugam (200m, 4×100), Danial Aswani Amar Nand (200m, 4×100m), Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian (110m hurdles, 4×100m), Arif Naim Fefrey (4×100m), Ngu Chee Yan (110m hurdles), Mohd Nursyarifuddin Shamsul Bahari (400m, 4×100m), Nordye Enik (400m), B. Gopi (2,000m steeplechase), N. Thines Kumar, Chan Wai Hong (10km walk), Jen Chan Guo, Mohd Syarul Faiz (long jump), Mohd Farid Nordin, Gerald Agan Ganang (javelin), Adi Aliffudin Husin, Ahmad Arif Umar (discus), Rafiuddin Che Omar, Mohd Hafizuddin Shahadan (pole vault).Girls: Nik Suhaibah Juwiah Jusoh, Teong Sui Men (100m, 4×100m), Jesyline Stevens, Nurul Sarah Abdul Kadir, Komalam Shalley (4×100m), Norisah Kassim, Raja Nursheena Raja Azhar (400m hurdles), Nurliana Kamarudin, Wong Boon Syian (high jump), Norhidayu Zainudin, Siti Hanisah Shaharudin (5km walk), Siti Nurul Ain Abdul Rahim (shot putt, hammer), Noor Shahidah Ramli (shot putt), Huong Ai Hie (hammer), Noor Amira Mohd Nafiah, Ng Gha Yee (triple jump).

Source : TheStar.com.my

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