Sprinter Azeem gets lifeline for Olympic wildcard

 

The Malaysia Athletics Federation will decide if Azeem Fahmi or Shereen Vallabouy will receive the wildcard for the Paris Olympics. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Athletics Federation is still undecided between Azeem Fahmi and Shereen Vallabouy for the wildcard in the 100m at the Paris Olympics.

MAF’s selection panel has put its decision on hold pending the performance of Azeem in the 100m at the Asean University Games in Indonesia on July 2.

“It’s his final chance to convince the selectors that he’s worthy of the wildcard,” said an official, referring to the sprinter’s recent loss of form.

Azeem holds the national 100m record of 10.09 set two years ago, but has not come close to it in recent months.

An official said MAF has sought an extension to the June 30 deadline to submit its pick for the universality placing (wildcard) to the Olympic Council of Malaysia.

OCM has until July 8 to inform World Athletics about Malaysia’s choice, which has been a close competition between the two outstanding athletes from Perak.

Shereen Vallabouy and Azeem Fahmi at their meeting yesterday with MAF president Shahidan Kassim and technical director Robert Ballard. (MAF pics)

National selectors met this evening for the second time after receiving medical reports on Azeem and Shereen from the National Sports Institute.

Both the athletes were given a clean bill of health following tests earlier in the day to ascertain their health level.

Apart from that, the selectors have found little to separate the attitude, commitment and trust in training of the pair.

Shereen, who will run the 400m at the university games, appears to have the edge over Azeem for the universality place despite not being a natural 100m runner.

She has run the short sprint in 11.61, and running the anchor leg in the 4x100m at the Hangzhou Asian Games last September, she received the baton with Malaysia in seventh position to dramatically grab the bronze medal.

Her record-breaking feats in the 400m and ability in the last two races to pass the whole field in the first 100m without breaking down have also put her at an advantage.

Malaysia received the wildcard after both the US-based athletes failed to make the cut for the Olympics in their respective events at the end of qualification and ranking period.

In terms of universality places, any nation that has no male or female qualified athlete will be allowed to enter their best ranked male or best ranked female athlete in either the 100m, 800m or marathon. - FMT