2009/06/18

WITH the national track and field athletes grounded for the year, local competitions across the country have taken on added significance.

The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) has barred national athletes from competing overseas due to the Influenza A H1N1 spreading around the globe.

MAAU took its cue from the National Sports Council, which has shelved European stints indefinitely pending an improvement in the situation.

Seven national athletes bound for Germany next month and the 14 junior athletes who qualified for the World Youth Championships in Brixen, Italy on July 8-12 are those who had their hopes of competing in Europe dashed.

The flu threat has also complicated efforts by high jumper Lee Hup Wei and pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin in August.
Only hurdler Noraseela Khalid, who is also seeking to qualify for the World Championships, will be venturing to Europe after making arrangements to travel with her South African counterparts to Germany from her training base in Pretoria.

With even regional competitions in neighbouring countries out of bounds, this weekend’s Malacca Open is set to see a strong turnout of national athletes.

The Malacca meet follows the Negri Sembilan, Kedah and Pahang state opens in seeing an increased attendance of athletes this year.

“Overseas competitions for national athletes have been cancelled due to A H1N1,” said MAAU general manager Sri Murigak Madhavan in a press statement.

“This (Malacca Open) will be a platform for athletes to qualify for the Mini Olympics and Laos Sea Games. Some 450 senior and junior athletes, including foreign entries from Oman, Saudi Arabia and the HPTC-Asia (IAAF High Performance Training Centre) in Bukit Jalil will be competing.”

Hup Wei and Roslinda will spearhead a 31-strong national contingent at the Malacca Open on Saturday and Sunday.

NATIONAL SQUAD — Men: Arif Naim Jefry, Danial Azuan Amar Nand, Latif Nyat, Nor Imran Hadi, Zabidi Ahmad, Zabidi Ghazali, S. Narendran, Zafril Zuslaini, Zaiful Zainal Abidin (sprints), M. Vadivellan, Jironi Riduan, Shaharuddin Hashim (distance), Robani Hassan, Faiz Muhammad (hurdles), Josbert Tinus, Syahrul Amri Suhaimi (long jump), Lee Hup Wei, Ahmad Najwan Aqra Hassaim (high jump), Hasrul Nizam, Adi Alifuddin Hussin (throws).

Women: Nurul Sarah Kadir, Yee Yi Leng, Norjannah Hafiszah Jamaludin, Norrohaida Baidawi, Norhaswanie Norizan (sprints), Roslinda Samsu, Kathleen Ong (pole vault), Siti Shahida Abdullah, Tan Song Hwa, Asrenny Asik, Yap Jen Tzan (throws).