7 days ago
Sprinter Azeem does just enough to reach Universiade semis
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's sprint ace Azeem Fahmi may not have been at his fastest, but he still did enough to win his heat and qualify for the 100m semi-finals at the World University Games (WUG) in Bochum, Germany, on Monday.
The 21-year-old Auburn University student clocked 10.57s to take heat seven - well off his national record of 10.09 set at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Colombia - but ranked 13th overall among 54 competitors.
Compatriot Aliff Iman Fahmi bowed out after finishing fifth in heat five with 11.09.
Thailand's Puripol Boonson led the field with the fastest time of 10.23 ahead of the semi-finals, scheduled for later today.
In the men's 400m, SEA Games gold medallist Umar Osman booked a semi-final spot after clocking 46.97 to finish fourth in heat four.
His semi-final will also be held later today.
There was disappointment in the 400m hurdles, with Fakhrul Afizul Nasir placing last in heat two with a time of 1:11.87.
In the women's 100m, Olympian Azreen Nabila Alias could only manage 12.04s, placing seventh in heat four - outside her personal best of 11.77s - and failed to progress.
Nur Afrina Batrisyia also missed out on the semi-finals, clocking 12.32 for fifth in heat three.
