Latest news with #MuhammadAzeem


New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
WUG 2025: Azeem fails to make 200m final, admits not ready for two events
BOCHUM (Germany): National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi failed to qualify for the men's 200-metre (m) final at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) in Lohrheidestadion here early Friday morning Malaysian time. The 21-year-old Auburn University student clocked 21.51 seconds (s), slower than his first-round time of 21.26s set yesterday. South Africa's Bayanda Walaza, who claimed the 100m title, maintained his strong performance by topping the heat with a time of 20.76s, followed by Adria Medero of Spain (20.77s) and Christopher Ius of Australia (20.85s). Speaking to reporters after the race, Muhammad Azeem admitted to suffering from fatigue after competing over four consecutive days, including the 100m event. "I still ran today to prove that I belong here, and I want to compete, not just participate. After today's race, I realised my body's condition isn't ready to handle two events in one meet. "But this is a good preparation for 2026 because I plan to run in both the 100m and 200m. The vision is clearer now, so I wouldn't say I'm disappointed because I know this isn't my main event," he said. According to Muhammad Azeem, this was his first time competing in two events at a single meet since his school days. "It's definitely tough. If you look at it, only Walaza is doing well in both events, and the rest specialise in the 200m. "For me, the 200m is a good race because it helps improve my 100m, especially in terms of top-end speed. That's why my coach and I are planning to focus on both events next year," said the Teluk Intan-born sprinter. Muhammad Azeem's personal best for the 200m stands at 20.79s, which he set in April at a championship in Florida - his sole appearance in the event this year before WUG. His personal best is just 0.02s behind the national record of 20.77s held by Russel Alexander Nasir Taib. Next, Muhammad Azeem, who finished fourth in the 100m, will join the national 4x100m relay squad for the heats scheduled for early Saturday Malaysian time. Meanwhile, the national mixed 4x400m quartet of Umar Osman, Muhammad Aidil Azhar Azrul Hisyam, Nurul Aliah Maisarah Nor Azmi and Chelsea Cassiopea Evalli Bopulas missed out on a place in the final after finishing last in heat two of round one with a time of 3 minutes 31.72s. In badminton, Malaysia's Eogene Ewe and Wong Ling Ching advanced to the singles quarter-finals after victories in the round of 16 at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim an der Ruhr. Eogene beat Thailand's Wongsup Wongsup-In 15-12, 15-9 to set up a clash with Ting Yen Chen of Taiwan, while Ling Ching defeated compatriot Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi 15-3, 15-12 to face India's Devika Sihag next.


The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Azeem falls short in 200m at WUG, shifts focus to 4x100m
NATIONAL sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi failed to qualify for the men's 200-metre (m) final at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) in Lohrheidestadion here early Friday morning Malaysian time. The 21-year-old Auburn University student clocked 21.51 seconds (s), slower than his first-round time of 21.26s set yesterday. South Africa's Bayanda Walaza, who claimed the 100m title, maintained his strong performance by topping the heat with a time of 20.76s, followed by Adria Medero of Spain (20.77s) and Christopher Ius of Australia (20.85s). Speaking to reporters after the race, Muhammad Azeem admitted to suffering from fatigue after competing over four consecutive days, including the 100m event. 'I still ran today to prove that I belong here, and I want to compete, not just participate. After today's race, I realised my body's condition isn't ready to handle two events in one meet. 'But this is a good preparation for 2026 because I plan to run in both the 100m and 200m. The vision is clearer now, so I wouldn't say I'm disappointed because I know this isn't my main event,' he said. According to Muhammad Azeem, this was his first time competing in two events at a single meet since his school days. 'It's definitely tough. If you look at it, only Walaza is doing well in both events, and the rest specialise in the 200m. 'For me, the 200m is a good race because it helps improve my 100m, especially in terms of top-end speed. That's why my coach and I are planning to focus on both events next year,' said the Teluk Intan-born sprinter. Muhammad Azeem's personal best for the 200m stands at 20.79s, which he set in April at a championship in Florida - his sole appearance in the event this year before WUG. His personal best is just 0.02s behind the national record of 20.77s held by Russel Alexander Nasir Taib. Next, Muhammad Azeem, who finished fourth in the 100m, will join the national 4x100m relay squad for the heats scheduled for early Saturday Malaysian time. Meanwhile, the national mixed 4x400m quartet of Umar Osman, Muhammad Aidil Azhar Azrul Hisyam, Nurul Aliah Maisarah Nor Azmi and Chelsea Cassiopea Evalli Bopulas missed out on a place in the final after finishing last in heat two of round one with a time of 3 minutes 31.72s. In badminton, Malaysia's Eogene Ewe and Wong Ling Ching advanced to the singles quarter-finals after victories in the round of 16 at the Westenergie Sporthalle in Mulheim an der Ruhr. Eogene beat Thailand's Wongsup Wongsup-In 15-12, 15-9 to set up a clash with Ting Yen Chen of Taiwan, while Ling Ching defeated compatriot Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi 15-3, 15-12 to face India's Devika Sihag next - BERNAMA

Barnama
6 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
WUG 2025: Azeem Fails To Make 200m Final, Admits Not Ready For Two Events
From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif BOCHUM (Germany), July 25 (Bernama) -- National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi failed to qualify for the men's 200-metre (m) final at the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) in Lohrheidestadion here early Friday morning Malaysian time. The 21-year-old Auburn University student clocked 21.51 seconds (s), slower than his first-round time of 21.26s set yesterday. bootstrap slideshow South Africa's Bayanda Walaza, who claimed the 100m title, maintained his strong performance by topping the heat with a time of 20.76s, followed by Adria Medero of Spain (20.77s) and Christopher Ius of Australia (20.85s). Speaking to reporters after the race, Muhammad Azeem admitted to suffering from fatigue after competing over four consecutive days, including the 100m event. 'I still ran today to prove that I belong here, and I want to compete, not just participate. After today's race, I realised my body's condition isn't ready to handle two events in one meet. 'But this is a good preparation for 2026 because I plan to run in both the 100m and 200m. The vision is clearer now, so I wouldn't say I'm disappointed because I know this isn't my main event,' he said. According to Muhammad Azeem, this was his first time competing in two events at a single meet since his school days. 'It's definitely tough. If you look at it, only Walaza is doing well in both events, and the rest specialise in the 200m.

Barnama
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
WUG 2025: Muhammad Azeem Checks Into 200m Semis Despite Lack Of Rest
BOCHUM (Germany), July 23 (Bernama) -- About 15 hours after competing in the men's 100-metre (m) final, national sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi managed to find another gear to advance to the semi-finals of the 200m event in the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games (WUG) in Lohrheidestadion here today. Running in Heat Two, Muhammad Azeem began well before slowing down in the last 30m to finish the first-round race in fourth place with a time of 21.26 seconds (s). South Africa's Bayanda Walaza, the 100m gold medallist, won Heat Two of the 200m race in 20.93s, followed by Poland's Lukasz Zok (21.06s) and Hungary's Zalan Deak (21.23s). bootstrap slideshow Muhammad Azeem confirmed his place in the semi-finals after emerging as the three fastest runners among those who were not the top three automatic qualifiers in each heat. "Overall, pretty tired because the race (100m final) ended at about 10 pm yesterday, and I reached the hotel around 11 pm, so I didn't get sufficient rest. But that's just an excuse because even Walaza experienced the same thing. Only the two of us who qualified for the 100m final were down to run the 200m race today. "It (today's race) was quite challenging, more so since I have not run the 200m for some time. But, following discussions with the coach, this is good training for upcoming races,' Muhammad Azeem, who studies at Auburn University in the United States, told reporters after the 200m opening race. Muhammad Azeem has a personal best time of 20.79s, which he set in April at a championships in Florida, which also happened to be his sole appearance in the 200m event before today's race. His personal best is only 0.02 seconds behind the national record of 20.77s held by Russel Alexander Nasir Taib. Elaborating, he hopes the luck of the draw will favour him as he eyes the outside lane for the semi-finals, which is slated to be held tomorrow night (early Friday morning in Malaysia).


The Sun
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
WUG 2025: Sprinter Muhammad Azeem all set to kickstart athletics challenge
THE national athletics squad, led by sprint ace Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi, will begin their challenge in the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games in Lohrheidestadion, Bochum, tomorrow. Muhammad Azeem, who is also the national 100 metres (m) record holder with a time of 10.09 seconds (s), will be in action in the first round of his pet event in the evening. The 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist will have Aliff Iman Mohd Fahimi for company. At the same time, Umar Osman, who holds the national 400m record of 46.09s, and Muhammad Aidil Azhar Azrul Hisyam will take part in the men's 400m event. Muhammad Fakrul Afizul Nasir, the national 400m hurdles record holder with a time of 51.26s, is also slated to compete. In the women's category, Azreen Nabila Alias and Nur Afrina Batrisyia Momahad Rizal will be hoping to do their best in the 100m event, while Nurul Aliah Maisarah Nor Azmi and Chelsea Cassiopea Evalli Bopulas will battle it out in the first round of the 400m event. Swimming and taekwondo, which enter the fifth day of competition tomorrow, are still awaiting their medals after swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean presented the national contingent with the first medal in Berlin on Thursday. Meanwhile, the national contingent ended Day Four of the WUG 2025 much earlier after the taekwondo exponents and swimmers fell in the preliminary rounds. The United States still lead the medal chart with nine golds, six silvers and 14 bronzes, followed by China, with a 6-10-3 haul and hosts Germany (6-3-7). The WUG 2025 ends on July 27- BERNAMA