THERE is no holding back Khairul Hafiz Jantan after his latest exploit saw him erase the 49-year-old national 200m record at the Malaysian Open on Tuesday.
The sprinter has been champing at the bit to unleash his full potential with coach Poad Kassim having restrained Khairul from the start of the year.
Poad's plan was for Khairul to hit his peak form at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games next month but after the Asian junior champion shattered Tan Sri Dr M.Jegathesan's 200m national record of 20.92 seconds, the restraints are off.
The signs were there when Khairul clocked 21.08s in the semi-finals at the National Stadium with Poad then advising his 19-year-old charge to just run a normal race in the final.
Khairul took that to mean he had the green light to attack Jegathesan's record, set at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, which he duly broke in a time of 20.90s.
"Khairul has been going this fast in training so there is no reason to hold him back. This is actually a normal race for him," said Poad when met in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
"I'm confident he can go even faster because he has not hit his peak yet. I'm not surprised he broke the record as I felt it was going to happen sooner or later.
"That he did it now is not a problem because we have four weeks to get him prepared to run faster at the Sea Games."
Khairul was nonchalant about his run, which saw him add the 200m record to the 100m mark of 10.18s he set last year.
"Whether it is the 100m or 200m, I know I have it in me to go even faster," said Khairul. "I have always targeted the doctor's (Jegathesan) record and I am grateful I have done it. But I won't stop here because I still have room to go faster.
"I am only 19 so I have time to improve. My coach knows my strengths and he says that I have not peaked yet.
"So I am saving my best for the Sea Games and I will try to fulfil the expectations of the Malaysian public."
Khairul, whose season's best in the 100m is 10.24 seconds posted at the Asian Track and Field Championships in India in early July, is currently the fastest runner in both events in Southeast Asia.
He is expected to be challenged by defending champion Eric Cray of the Philippines in the 100m while Thailand's Jirapong Meenapra and Trenten Beram of the Philippines are Khairul's main rivals in the 200m.
"I am excited to get a chance to run on home ground and in front of our supporters," said Asian junior champion Khairul, who will be making his Sea Games debut. "The track condition is good and I hope the support of the home crowd will push me to victory."
With Khairul's recent exploits, the Malaysian athletics squad could well win at least eight gold medals, two more than the target set by the Malaysian Athletics Federation.