KUALA LUMPUR: Sprinter Azeem Fahmi has set his sights on breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100m next year.
The 19-year-old is back in Malaysia for a short break and will compete in his first competition at the Innotex Open, which starts tomorrow in Bukit Jalil, since winning the 100m bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
However, he is only competing in the 200m during the off-season to boost his endurance and speed for the 2024 season.
The United States-based Azeem ended Malaysia's long wait for an Asian Games medal in the men's 100m when he clocked 10.11s to finish third in Hangzhou.
Azeem's former coach Amir Izwan said: "His coach Ken Harnden wants the sprinter to race in the 200m, which will indirectly help him improve his timing in the 100m.
"Azeem has also decided to focus on both the 100m and 200m next year. However, his main goal is to qualify on merit for next year's Paris Olympics," said Amir, who is now the national junior sprints coach.
Azeem first grabbed attention when he broke the national 100m record by clocking 10.09s at the World Junior Championships in Colombia last year.
However, Azeem needs to dip below the 10-second barrier by June next year to qualify for the Paris Games.
He also holds the national 60m record of 6.62s set in February.
The Perak-born athlete, who studies at Auburn University in Alabama, has a personal best of 20.83 in the 200m.