PENANG track and field athletes who recently earned gold medals in the recently concluded Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Sarawak, have now set their sights on even bigger goals in the upcoming South-East Asian (SEA) Games next year.
They are Muhammad Sayyed Amin (Sukma gold medalist in 200m event), Wilson Quaik Zhen Han (Sukma decathlon gold medalist), Tan Zhi Hang (Sukma long jump event gold medalist) and Sriven Tan (Sukma race walking event gold medalist).
The SEA Games 2025 is expected to be held in Thailand in December next year, with Bangkok as the host city.
Buletin Mutiara has spoken to these four promising athletes, all driven by ambition and hard work, as they prepare to represent the country on an international level.
The interview session was conducted at the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) Sports and Recreational Complex in Jalan Betek, Bukit Mertajam recently.
Muhammad Sayyed,17, who has already made an impression in his first Sukma appearance, is determined to beat his personal best.
He clinched gold in the 200m event with an impressive time of 21.22s.
His sights are now firmly set on the SEA Games, where he aims to achieve a personal best of 21.03 seconds, a time that could put him in contention for a podium finish.
“I have already qualified for the SEA Games, and my target is a bronze medal.
“This is just the beginning, and I am determined to improve and make the state and country proud,” said the young sprinter, brimming with confidence.
As for Quaik, 20, he’s already a familiar name in the decathlon event, having now won back-to-back gold medals at Sukma.
Despite his success, Quaik is far from complacent.
“I am aiming to qualify for the SEA Games through the Philippines Open in April next year.
“I need to score about 1,800 points to qualify, and that’s my first goal. After that, I will focus on doing my best at the SEA Games,” he said.
Quaik’s dedication is evident in his rigorous training routine, where he trains almost every day to sharpen his skills and improve his overall performance.
Another young athlete aiming for SEA Games qualification is Tan, a 19-year-old long jumper who secured his first-ever Sukma gold medal with a leap of 7.16 metres.
While thrilled with his achievement, Tan knows there is more work to be done. His current focus is on meeting the SEA Games qualification standard of 7.57 metres.
“I train every day with the hope of qualifying for the SEA Games.
“Winning gold at Sukma was a great experience, but my real goal is to compete at the international level,” said Tan.
As for Sriven, 19, he is already making waves in the race walking events.
At last Sukma, he dominated the 10,000-metre event, winning gold, and also earned a silver in the 20,000-metre race, replicating the same feat from his first Sukma appearance.
Now, Sriven has his eyes on the next SEA Games in Bangkok, Thailand, having already qualified for the event.
“My target now is to reach the podium. I have already qualified, so now it’s about pushing myself further and making sure I’m ready to compete at the highest level,” he said with quiet determination.
Each of these athletes shares a common dream which is to shine at the SEA Games. Their hard work and determination have already brought them success at Sukma, but their journey is far from over.
As they continue to train daily, pushing themselves to new heights, there is no doubt that they are ready to make Malaysia proud on the international stage.
The next few months will be crucial as they prepare for the challenges ahead, but if their Sukma performances are any indication, these young athletes are well on their way to achieving greatness.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi