Yu Shen Steals The Show

PENANG: Just two days after Selangor high jumper Lee Hup Wei burst onto the athletics scene with an outstanding 2.15m jump to shatter the boys' Under-18 record, another budding star in the event emerged from the national schools (MSSM) athletics championships yesterday.

Johor's Poh Yu Shen, who is Hup Wei's training partner at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), proved that Malaysia have abundant junior talents to continue Loo Kum Zee's high jump supremacy in the region.

Yu Shen cleared 1.95m to clinch the boys' Under-15 gold medal and his effort broke the record of 1.89m set by Lau Sie Long in Seremban last year.

After clearing 1.95m on his third attempt, Yu Shen requested for the bar to be raised to 1.98m, which is the qualifying mark for the world youth championships in Morocco in July. But the 15-year-old jumper from Kluang failed to clear the bar.

HEAVE HO: Johor's Po Yu Shen clearing the 1.95m mark the shatter the boys' Under-15 high jump record during the National Schools Championships at the City Stadium yesterday.

“I still have one more chance at the national junior meet in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the month before the qualification period expires. I am confident of making the grade,” said Yu Shen.

Yu Shen attributed his first-ever success in the national schools scene to three people – his current Bukit Jalil Sports School coach, Alim Ahmejanov; his former coach, Mohd Noor Shari; and Hup Wei.

“I am lucky to have come under the guidance of these two fantastic jump coaches,” he said.

“Alim, especially, has helped me improved on my techniques by a big margin since I joined the BJSS two years ago.

“When Hup Wei equalled the SEA Games gold medal-winning mark on Monday, I was not surprised at all. We have been pushing each other very hard in training and I believe that both of us will continue to motivate each other to numerous successes even when we get into the senior scene.”

Kedah's Mohd Naim Azhar and Sheikh Lokman Hakim settled for silver and bronze with heights of 1.89m and 1.83m respectively.

In the boys' Under-18 long jump, Hup Wei missed a glorious chance to add a third gold medal to his collection.

Hup Wei, who won the triple jump the previous day, lost the battle against teammate Jen Chan Guo on practically the last jump of the event.

The lead had changed hands and Hup Wei appeared to have the gold in the bag when recorded a distance of 6.98m effort in the fifth attempt to beat BJSS schoolmate's Chan Guo best effort of 6.96m. But Chan Guo saved his best for the last. In his sixth and final attempt, he leapt past seven metres for the fist time in his life – a 7.01m.

“I have always played second fiddle to Hup Wei in schools and state meets. It is a welcome change for me,” said the 1.85m-tall Chan Guo.

“This is the first time that I won a gold medal in the MSSM.

“Hopefully, I will be selected to make my Asean schools debut in Singapore in July.”

Selangor's Sinar Sajwa Saharudin's 7.29m leap, set in 2003, still stands as the MSSM record.