BJSS ATHLETICS

Casier upstages Song Hwa

By Devinder Singh

 

TAN Song Hwa's reign as the country's top hammer thrower is under serious threat after understudy Casier Renee Kelly Lee beat her to the punch by becoming the first track and field woman athlete to qualify on merit for this year's edition in Myanmar.

Sarawakian Casier, 20, is poised to carry Malaysia's challenge in the women's hammer at the Sea Games if Song Hwa does not get into shape in time after almost a year out of competition following surgery for a slipped disc.

Casier surpassed the qualifying mark of 51.95m by winning the FT Open on June 8-9 with a personal best of 52.50, though that is still some way short of Song Hwa's national record of 58.71m.

Pahang's Song Hwa aims to return to competition by September though she is already back in training under new coach Gu Yuan of China, the 2002 Asian Games gold medalist and World Cup winner.

While the immediate target is to return to competition and qualify for the Sea Games, where Song Hwa will attempt to win a third consecutive gold, the 26-year-old is working towards claiming a medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

"It has been a year since I last competed because of the slipped disc," said Song Hwa, who said tomorrow's start of the National Closed Championships in Bukit Jalil is too soon for her.

"I underwent an operation and I'm trying to work back to fitness. This is not a light injury for a hammer thrower and it takes time to recover. That is why I'm not ready to compete yet and I think I will only be back in September."

Song Hwa described the challenge posed by Casier as motivational, in the same manner she battled 2005 and 2007 Sea Games champion Siti Shahidah Abdullah for the mantle of the country's top hammer thrower.

http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/athletics-casier-upstages-song-hwa-1.303673