Khairul does it again, another national record broken

National sprint king Khairul Hafiz Jantan now holds two national records after breaking the 49-year record of Dr Mani Jegathesan in the 200m.

PETALING JAYA: Almost one year after breaking the national sprint record, Khairul Hafiz Jantan has done it again, breaking another long-standing national athletics record beating Dr Mani Jegathesan’s 200m record, which had stood for 49 years.

Taking part in the Malaysian Open Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday, Khairul, 19, hit the tape for the 200m at 20.90 seconds.

The previous record of 20.92 seconds was set by Jegathesan at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, where the Malaysian also became the first Malaysian to make it to the semi-finals of the event.

On July 27 last year, Khairul broke Watson Nyambek’s 18-year record in the 100m event, by winning the Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medal in Sarawak, with a time of 10.18 seconds. Watson’s record of 10.30 seconds was achieved in July 1998.

In the 200m yesterday, Khairul also made it look easy by beating his closest rival by a five-metre margin.

The Malaysian Open Athletics Championships is part of the preparations for local athletes competing in the SEA Games, that will be held in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 19 to Aug 30. -Mkini