Sunday June 14, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: High jumper Lee Hup Wei and pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu are the best bets to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin from Aug 15-23.
Unfortunately, the duo’s hopes of making the cut are slim following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of a pandemic because of the influenza A (H1N1) threat.

The duo were supposed to have gone for a six-week training-cum-competition stint in Germany last month but it was cancelled because of the flu outbreak in Europe.
Both Hup Wei and Roslinda have until end of July to surpass the qualifying marks in their respective events.

The qualifying marks for men’s high jump is 2.30m (Category A) and women’s pole vault is 4.35m (Category B).
Hup Wei, the Asian Track and Field (ATF) gold medallist who holds the national record of 2.27m, doubts that the alert level would drop in the next month.

“I don’t think I will get a chance to compete in any international meets to qualify for the World Championships.

“I will continue to train under coach Jose (Luis Alforo of Cuba) and I will compete in the local meets to try and qualify for the world meet,” said Hup Wei, who needs to clear 2.28m to qualify under Category B.

Roslinda, who has the personal best of 4.40m, has a season’s best of 4.25m, which she achieved at the Negri Sembilan Open in April.