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Great leap by Shahrizal

KUALA LUMPUR: Two years of training under former long jump star Zaki Sadri has done wonders for Shahrizal Nasharuddin Isham.

The 21-year-old from Terengganu produced a personal best (PB) of 7.48m in the men's long jump to break the meet record in the one day Pahang Open Athletics Championships at Sekolah Sukan Malaysia Pahang (SSMP) in Gambang today.

He erased the previous record of 7.32m set by Zulkfli Amin Salleh

of Pahang in 2008.

Para athlete Abdul Latif Romly (7.47m) and Luqman Hakim Ramlan (7.45m), who finished second and third respectively, also bettered the meet's record.

The previous PB of the lanky Shahrizal was 6.99m posted at the Perak All Comers in Ipoh in February for bronze.

"I knew that I would do a personal best in the Pahang Open that would break the meet record too," he said.

"I am delighted to improve my mark by 49 centimetres.

"I must thank coach Zaki, who is a legend as without his guidance, I won't be able to achieve it.

"I must also thank the Terengganu Sports Council for giving all the support in training to help me become a good long jump athlete.

"My dream is to become the best long jumper in the country," said Shahrizal.

Para athlete Ziyad Zolkefli broke the Pahang Open men's shot putt record with a throw of 16.77m, erasing the old mark of 14.88m set by Hafiz Hashim in 1988.

Ziyad, who won bronze in the recent Hanoi SEA Games with a throw of 17.20m, said: "I failed to surpass the 17-metre mark but I am satisfied to break the meet record," he said.

Sprinter Nor Sarah Adi won the women's 100m in 12.17s but she was unhappy with her timing.

"My effort was slower than my personal best of 11.89s," said Sarah, who won the pole vault gold in the Hanoi Sea Games.

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