Athletics: Shahrulhaizy seeks redemption

Shahrulhaizy has surpassed the Sea Games qualifying time but has to contend with three others for the two slots available for Vientiane.

REDEMPTION is clearly on his mind after the bitter experience of the Korat Sea Games two years ago as walker Shahrulhaizy Abdul Rahman plots his way to this year's edition in Vientiane, Laos.

Teoh Boon Lim

Shahrulhaizy, 29, has lived with the knowledge that he only had himself to blame for his disqualification in the 20km walk in 2007 when he blew his chance of becoming the first walker in the history of the Sea Games to win the event three times in a row.

Although his coach V. Subramaniam did achieve a hat-trick of wins from 1977 to 1981, that feat was recorded in the 10,000m walk.

But now the Kuala Lumpur-born walker has the perfect opportunity to exorcise the ghost of Korat by putting himself firmly in the frame for Vientiane by finishing 12th in the Asian Race Walking (20km) Championship in Nomi City, Japan last week.

His time of one hour, 31 minutes and 34 seconds comfortably surpassed the qualifying time of 1:32:58 but Shahrulhaizy now braces for a battle with three teammates for two spots in the Sea Games squad.
Shahrulhaizy was third among four Malaysians in Nomi City behind Malaysia Games gold medallist Lo Choon Siang, who timed 1:29:28 and Teoh Boon Lim, the 2007 Sea Games gold medallist, who clocked 1:31:17.

"I was quite surprised by my time in Nomi City as it was my first international race since Korat," said Shahrulhaizy. "You never know what to expect after being away from this level of competition for so long as there was a fair bit of pressure, fear and hope on me to perform."

But perform he did and now he hopes to achieve a level of consistency which would allow him to add to the two Sea Games gold medals he won in 2003 and 2005.

"Obviously I hope to get a chance to make up for the disappointment of Korat. But the competition for places for Laos is going to be tough and exciting," he said.

"I would say the ones who are most consistent in clocking good times will be selected although I think Choon Siang, based on his current performance, is the favourite among the four of us."

The fourth walker in contention for a Sea Games berth is B. Thirukumaran, who only just missed the qualifying mark by a second in Nomi City.

The current situation is similar to 2007 when the same four walkers competed against each other for a spot to Korat with Shahrulhaizy and Boon Lim getting the nod in the end.

NST