Roslinda Samsu, not in her best form, was hit with another hurdle in her quest to win her fourth consecutive pole vault gold when her coach Manshahar Abdul Jalil was hospitalised after collapsing at the Games Village due to breathing difficulties in Palembang yesterday.
Manshahar, 51, has been Roslinda's coach since she was 16 and his condition has rattled the athlete as there are only four days left before her event.
Manshahar was asked to rest and Roslinda hoped he would recover by Tuesday and guide her to gold.
"My performance has not been good this year but I have been gradually improving.
"I never expected my coach would fall ill. I want him to be well but it would be good if he is there to guide me,"said the 29-year-old Roslinda.
Vietnam's Le Thi Phuong is likely to be Roslinda's main threat but the presence of Manshahar at the Athletics Stadiu in Jakabaring should be enough to boost the Malaysian to gold.
Meanwhile, the change in schedule saw Malaysia missing the chance of probably winning the first athletic gold medal of the Games when the men's 20km walk was postponed to tomorrow and this is expected to give hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa the honour of securing the country's first gold today.
Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Choon Sieang were to battle for the first gold in the 20km walk at the Jakabaring Sports Complex today but the postponement means Song Hwa appears to be Malaysia best bet to start the hunt.
Song Hwa, 25, set a new Games record of 56.41m, to secure her first Sea Games gold in Laos 2009.
"I am not looking at a new record or thinking about becoming the first Malaysian to win in the Games but focusing on defending the gold," said Song Hwa.
Manshahar was asked to rest and Roslinda hoped he would recover by Tuesday and guide her to gold.
"My performance has not been good this year but I have been gradually improving.
"I never expected my coach would fall ill. I want him to be well but it would be good if he is there to guide me,"said the 29-year-old Roslinda.
Vietnam's Le Thi Phuong is likely to be Roslinda's main threat but the presence of Manshahar at the Athletics Stadiu in Jakabaring should be enough to boost the Malaysian to gold.
Meanwhile, the change in schedule saw Malaysia missing the chance of probably winning the first athletic gold medal of the Games when the men's 20km walk was postponed to tomorrow and this is expected to give hammer thrower Tan Song Hwa the honour of securing the country's first gold today.
Teoh Boon Lim and Lo Choon Sieang were to battle for the first gold in the 20km walk at the Jakabaring Sports Complex today but the postponement means Song Hwa appears to be Malaysia best bet to start the hunt.
Song Hwa, 25, set a new Games record of 56.41m, to secure her first Sea Games gold in Laos 2009.
"I am not looking at a new record or thinking about becoming the first Malaysian to win in the Games but focusing on defending the gold," said Song Hwa.
Read more: SEA GAMES: Roslinda troubled, Song Hwa focused - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-roslinda-troubled-song-hwa-focused-1.4765#ixzz1deGCCfNU
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