Athletics: MAAU in trouble as athletes fail to impress

2009/11/16

Devinder Singh

THE Asian Championships which ended on Saturday merely confirmed what has long been known in the local athletic circle as Malaysian track and field faces a bleak future. That once again an athlete nearing the end of her career saved the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union's (MAAU) blushes is a damning indictment of a failed development programme.

Of the 17 athletes who competed in Guangzhou, China, none posted a personal best let alone threatened to break a national record despite competing against high-level opposition.

MAAU has complained it has been frustrated by the lack of overseas competitions this year but when offered the chance, only Noraseela Khalid grabbed the opportunity.

Noraseela's silver medal in th women's 400m hurdles underscored her reputation as an Asian class athlete but there is little to cheer beyond that sole medal.

Lee Hup Wei and Roslinda Samsu, the defending champions in the men's high jump and women's pole vault respectively, were not expected to win gold again but the manner in which they relinquished their titles leaves much to be desired.

Pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu failed to clear 3.80m, a height which never troubled her in the past.

Roslinda failed to clear 3.80m, a height which never troubled her in the past, while Hup Wei had to be satisfied with fifth place on 2.15m, which was way below his national record of 2.27.

However, Roslinda and Hup Wei can still be counted upon to deliver at the Laos Sea Games, even with those poor efforts, although the same can't be said of the rest of the national athletes.

MAAU invited ridicule when it set the men's 4x400m quartet a gold medal target in Laos but after Zafril Zuslaini, P. Yuvaaraj, Idris Zakaria and Noor Imran Hadi finshed last some three seconds behind regional rivals Thailand, a re-think may be in order.

Middle distance runners M. Vadivellan and Jironi Riduan too have flattered to deceive and can count themselves lucky if they figure among the medals in Laos in the 800m and 1,500m respectively.

Robani Hassan was again frustrated in his attempt to break 14 seconds in the 110m hurdles but heavy wind and rain spoilt his chances, a fact which former world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang of China alluded to when explaining his slow 13.50 winning time.

But Robani, who posted his season's best of 14.01 in the semi-finals, finished ahead of Thailand's Jamras Rittidet to provide encouragement the hurdles event will remain in Malaysia's possession.

Walkers Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Choon Sieng also failed to impress but should have little trouble in ensuring a Malaysian 1-2 in Laos in the 20km walk while Tan Song Hwa also should also be the favourite for the hammer throw despite finding herself out of her depth at Asian level.

High jumper Lee Hup Wei had to be satisfied with fifth place on 2.15m which was below his national record of 2.27.