SURABAYA, July 2 — National sprinter Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi is ready for action at the 2024 Paris Olympics if the Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF) chooses to give him the wild card to the championship held every four years.
However, he remains open-minded and will accept all the decisions made by the country's governing body if not selected to bring the country's challenge to the prestigious sports games.
"If I am given a month to go to the Olympic Games (this) I will be ready, if there is no Olympic Games I will go to Sukma (Malaysian Games)... Of course I will try my best, and on returning to Malaysia, I will practise harder and be smart.
"I will also accept it if I do not have the chance," he told the press after competing in the men's 100m sprint event at the Asean University Games 2024 today.
MAF will announce whether to choose Azeem or the national women's 400m runner Shereen Samson Vallabouy to fill the wild card ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games tomorrow.
In the men's 100m sprint final at the Surabaya University's Athletic Field, he won the silver medal with a time of 10.37s behind host sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri, who clocked 10.19s.
The bronze medal went to Jaelani Fatah Sidek, also of Indonesia, with a time of 10.59s.
Commenting on today's run, Azeem admitted that he was not at his best but was grateful to have finished the run safely.
At the same time, he also shared that he suffered several minor injuries before, which forced him to undergo a healing period from February to April.
"I am not trying to make an excuse; on the track, it is normal as an athlete there will be minor injuries. The coaches are aware, and MAF is also aware, and I have not participated in many events in the United States.
"We just want to prevent worsening the injury; now I am getting better, mentally and physically, 100 per cent better," Azeem said.
— Bernama
