KUANTAN – The sacrifice of staying away from home during Aidiladha paid off handsomely for national 110m hurdles sprinter Rizzua Haizah Muhammad, who triumphed with a gold medal at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships held at Kuantan’s Darul Makmur Stadium today.
Despite grappling with a hip injury, Rizzua delivered a stellar performance, setting a new personal best this season with a time of 14.08 seconds in the final race.
His achievement overshadowed challenges from Armin Zahyryl Abdul of Terengganu, who secured the silver medal with a time of 14.29s, and Sarawak’s Elvin Yap, who claimed bronze with 14.42s.
Originally from Kuching, Sarawak, Rizzua reflected on the frequent scheduling conflicts that have kept him from returning home for Aidiladha celebrations for an extended period.
Nevertheless, he maintains regular contact with his family, updating them on his life as a dedicated national athlete.
“I am satisfied with the performance I achieved. If you look at my performance graph, it shows consistent improvement in every competition I participate in. It’s the best gift for celebrating Aidiladha this Monday,” Rizzua told Scoop, clearly elated by his achievement.
“Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I was home with my family to celebrate this occasion together, but it’s not an issue because I keep in touch with them regularly.
“For instance, after the final race earlier, I knew they were watching the live broadcast. As soon as the race ended and I found out the official results, I called my mother to share my joyous feelings about this achievement.”
His longing to celebrate Aidiladha with his family in Kuching was palpable.
“Before I became a full-time athlete, I used to celebrate with my family and enjoy dishes like rendang, ketupat, chicken curry, and masak merah, just like in other places,” he reminisced.
“For me, I would eat everything, but I realise that as an athlete, I have to ensure that I am always in the best condition.
“That’s why, after the festive season ends, I will work hard to burn off all the calories by following a more rigorous training regime.”
Looking ahead, Rizzua remains resolute, eyeing his upcoming representation of Malaysia at the Asean University Games in Surabaya, Indonesia, later this month. – June 15, 2024