BJSS ATHLETICS

Ammar: My ultimate goal is to win gold in MSSM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One step at a time: Ammar Zakuan Zanuar will feature in the boys’ Under-18 400m hurdles event in the National Schools (MSSM) athletics championships in Kuantan on Sunday. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Hurdler Ammar Zakuan Zanuar is not jumping for joy despite having qualified for the World Youth Athletics Champion-ships in Donetsk, Ukraine, on July 10-14.

The Kota Tinggi-born 400m hurdler said that there was no point featuring in the World Youth meet if he can’t even win the gold medal in the National Schools (MSSM) athletics championships, which will begin in Kuantan on Sunday.

The Form Five student of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) had clocked 55.01 to finish fifth in the first Malaysian Grand Prix in Bukit Jalil last month. His time surpassed the qualifying mark of 55.80.

Ammar, who will be featuring for the fourth – and last – time in the MSSM meet, admitted that based on his time of 55.01, he stood a good chance of winning the elusive gold medal in the boys’ Under-18 event.
“The 400m hurdles is not only a taxing event but a technical one too. I’ve been training hard since qualifying for the world youth,” said Ammar.

“My ultimate goal in the MSSM meet is to win the gold ... failure to do so will be a blow to me as I am tagged as the favourite.

“I also want to win the gold in the MSSM to qualify for the Asean Schools meet in Vietnam (from June 25 to July 2),” added Ammar, who took up athletics at age of 10.

He made his debut in the MSSM meet in 2010 and qualified for the final in the Under-15 200m hurdles.
A year later, Ammar won the silver in 200m and bronze in the 110m hurdles in the Under-15 category and last year he won silver in the 400m hurdles in the Under-18 division.

National coach Ithnin Mahadi, who trains Ammar, believes that his trainee has the height and speed to become a good 400m hurdler.

“I’m confident that Ammar will not only win the MSSM gold but he will also be able to dip below 55 seconds in the meet,” said Ithnin.

The other athletes who have qualified for the World Youth championships are 400m runner Fathin Faqihah Mohd Yusuf and triple jumpers Noor Shahidatul Nadia and R. Kirthana.

http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2013/5/16/sports/13117293&sec=sports