SERDANG, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Perak athlete Muhammad Adib Irfan Azizan contributed the first gold medal for the Perak contingent in athletics by dominating the 400-meter (m) hurdles event today.
During the action which took place at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Stadium, the 20-year-old athlete finished the run with a time of 52 seconds (s), thereby breaking his personal best record in the event.
Second place was won by Johor runner Muhammad Danish Nabil Kamarudin with a difference of 0.625 s, while the bronze was won by Terengganu athlete Shazril Ashraff Shamsurbahry with a time of 52.8 s.
"I really targeted gold. Alhamdulillah, this is perhaps my blessing," Muhammad Adib Irfan said when met after the race.
Meanwhile, the sports science and coaching student from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris also expressed his appreciation to his teachers and coaches who successfully spotted his talent to perform in athletics.
"Previously I played football, but the teachers saw my talent so they trained me.
"In fact, I also listened to my mother who said that football is a team sport. Even if we perform, if the team doesn't perform we still lose, so I chose athletics," he said.
Meanwhile, the women's 400 m hurdles category saw Kelantan athlete Fatin Mashira Mohd Fadzil successfully claim her second gold medal of the games after emerging as champion with a time of 1 minute 02.08 seconds.
The silver medal was won by Nur Farisha Ardeana Ardy Abdullah from Terengganu (1:02.44 s), while the bronze belonged to Siti Rokiah Hashim from Kedah (1:04.890 s).
Earlier, Fatin Mashira successfully won gold in the 100m hurdles.
-- BERNAMA