KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian sprinter Afiq Ali Hanafiah is seizing his long-awaited opportunity to compete in the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, from May 25 to 27, after a four-year wait.
Afiq successfully secured his ticket to Kobe after ranking eighth in the world in the T12 category (visually impaired) 100m event, and also surpassing the qualifying time limit of 12.50 seconds (s).
The Johor native expressed excitement and aspirations for a stronger performance compared to his debut in Dubai back in 2019.
Although he saw an early exit there, Afiq still holds pride in his impressive time of 11.39s, marking his season best.
In Kobe, Afiq’s goal is to surpass his personal best of 11.10s, enhancing his prospects for participation in the Paris Paralympic Games in August.
“I didn’t expect to qualify because there are still other athletes who are better, but this is my fate, and I don’t want to waste it.
“I know the challenges there are very tough, especially in my category, but if possible, I want to try to break my personal best record and advance to the final.
“During my first performance in Dubai 2019, I competed in pain due to a knee injury, but I reminded myself not to give up, and even though I didn’t advance to the next round, I am still proud of the record I achieved,” said Afiq.
Afiq is preparing to depart for Morocco tomorrow, accompanied by fellow sprinters Ridzuan Puzi, Muhammad Ammar Aiman Nor Azmi, and Ahmad Fizzi Rosni, to compete in the Marrakech World Para Athletics Grand Prix that starts on Monday.
“In Morocco, my coach has set a target for me to aim for a sub-11.30-second run, a challenge well within reach considering my past performances.
“With confidence, I believe I can achieve a time under 11.10s and beyond. As the Morocco championship concludes, our focus will swiftly shift to preparing for the World Championships in Kobe,” he added. – April 18, 2024