KUALA LUMPUR – National sprinter Shereen Samson Vallabouy ended Malaysia’s 17-year medal drought today at the Asian Games women’s 400m event.
National hurdler Noraseela Khalid was the last national athlete to bag a medal, who clinched bronze in 2006.
United States-based Shereen, who holds the women’s national 400m record of 51.80s, clocked in at 52.58s to clinch a well-deserved bronze medal at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.
While she fell short of the gold, Bahrain’s Adekoya Oluwakemi Mujidat claimed the first place with a 50.66s finish.
Adekoya’s compatriot secured the silver medal, completing the podium with a time of 50.92 seconds.
United States-based Shereen also managed to emulate the feat achieved by her mother, Josephine Mary who won two bronze medals in the 800m event at the 1986 Seoul Games and 4x400m at the 1990 Beijing edition.
Shereen told reporters that she is thrilled to have achieved her target of wanting to mark her Asiad debut with a medal.
“It means a lot. Feels amazing to work really hard and be able to reach this stage, and win a medal for Malaysia.
“My mom and dad (Samson Vallabouy) were national athletes, it’s such an amazing feeling to follow in their footsteps and make them proud.
“Everyone was strong in the field… For me, I want to follow my execution because everyone has a different way of running (the) 400m, so that really helps me focus on my lane and how I am going to run my race.
“I think (I) had a great start, I pushed off really well and was able to maintain in the backstretch.
“The two Bahraini girls were really strong, I was able to use them as my pace-maker, and that really helped me,” she said.
Shereen will next compete in the women’s 4x100m relay after being listed among the six runners.
She will complete her 2023 race season once the Asiad is over by spending time with her family in Ipoh, Perak for six weeks before getting down to the serious business of hunting for a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. – September 30, 2023