KUALA LUMPUR – Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi lived up to expectations at the Asian Games today, securing a bronze medal in the men’s 100m event – 41 years after the last national athlete reached such heights in the Asian Games.
He also clinched a second bronze medal in the athletics category for the Malaysian contingent following Shereen Samson Vallabouy’s earlier bronze in the women’s 400m event, which ended the nation’s 17-year Asian Games medal drought.
In the men’s 100m final at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, the United States-based runner clocked a time of 10.11s.
He finished 0.14s behind the gold medalist from China, Xie Zhenye, who completed the race in 9.97s.
Meanwhile, Thailand’s Puripol Boonson rounded up the podium with a time of 10.02s.
19-year-old Azeem came remarkably close to breaking the national 100m outdoor record of 10.09 seconds which he had set himself.
Azeem’s accomplishment stands as a historic milestone for the Malaysian contingent, as it has been 41 years since a Malaysian athlete managed to win a medal in the Games’ men’s 100m event.
The previous instance of Malaysia claiming a medal in the 100m event dates back to 1982, when Datuk Rabuan Pit achieved this feat.
In that remarkable year, Rabuan clinched the gold medal, while Jang Jae-keun from South Korea secured the silver. – September 30, 2023