KUANTAN: Sprinter Azeem Fahmi does not want to set a specific timing to break his national 100m record as he feels it would add pressure on himself.
The 20-year-old, who easily won the 100m title at the Malaysian Open at Darulmakmur Stadium on Saturday, believes he still has time to attempt a new national record.
His current record is 10.09s.
"As for now, I am not going to set any specific timing as it could put unnecessary pressure on myself. It is not the right way to progress.
"I am just 20 years old and have a long way ahead of me. Give me another one or two years to be in peak form," said Azeem, who clocked 10.43 at the Malaysian Open.
Azeem, who is studying at Auburn University in the United States, will next compete at the Kazakhstan Open in Almaty on June 23-24.
With Azeem's decision not to set any pressure on himself to break the national record, it is unlikely he will beat the Olympic qualifying time of 10.00 to qualify for the Paris Games on merit.
However, he can still qualify if he is in the top 56 of the Road to Paris rankings.
He is currently at No. 61 and needs to clock below 10.25 to gain enough ranking points to jump into the top 56.
Azeem said he is fired up for the race in Almaty following the challenge by former national sprinter Watson Nyambek for him to qualify for Paris on merit instead of waiting for a wild card.
"I accept the challenge as it is something I need in order not to remain complacent. The race next week will be vital for me to improve my timing and maybe go on to become the first Malaysian to dip below 10.00," he said.
Meanwhile, seasoned sprinter Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli retained her title as Malaysia's undisputed women's 100m champion after taking the gold medal in Kuantan.
The 31-year-old, who ran in the 2016 Rio Olympics via a wild card, said she was unimpressed with her timing in Kuantan.
"I am unhappy with the timing (11.79) but glad that I still managed to win gold. Several juniors, including Afrina (Nor Afrina Batrisyia Moha) and Azreen (Azreen Nabila Alias), are coming close, so I have to push myself harder.
"I cannot afford to take it lightly as the junior sprinters are doing exceptionally well. I am happy with their progress as they will certainly make me work even harder," she said.
